Model-driven coding with VPAT: The Verbal Protocol Analysis Tool

Author

Lottridge, Danielle ; Chignell, Mark ; Kastner, Monika ; Zhang, Quan ; Alexandar, Adrian ; Straus, Sharon

Author_Institution

Interactive Media Lab., Univ. of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

fYear

2009

fDate

26-27 Sept. 2009

Firstpage

808

Lastpage

813

Abstract

We present the coding tool VPAT (Verbal Protocol Analysis Tool), specifically designed to facilitate model driven analysis of users´ verbal data. Such model-driven coding presents challenges in terms of efficiency and reliability. Engineers and researchers need effective means of coding with complex, hierarchical, multi-level coding schemes. VPAT allows input of customizable coding schemes, quick and easy insertion of codes into text documents with a user-friendly interface, and extraction of codes for analysis purposes. VPAT was developed for research purposes with user-centered design methods with various stakeholders. The VPAT prototype runs in conjunction with MS Access and MS Excel. Comparative task analysis breakdowns of main coding tasks in VPAT and a leading coding application are presented to demonstrate advantages and tradeoffs. A case study of coding usability data for a healthcare information retrieval system is presented to demonstrate usage and benefits. VPAT is a specific tool suited to model-based coding, and was shown to increase speed and reliability.

Keywords

encoding; human computer interaction; network analysers; user centred design; MS Excel; MS access; VPAT; complex coding schemes; hierarchical coding schemes; information retrieval system; model driven analysis; model driven coding; multilevel coding schemes; user centered design methods; user friendly interface; verbal data; verbal protocol analysis tool; Data mining; Design engineering; Industrial engineering; Power system modeling; Protocols; Prototypes; Reliability engineering; Text analysis; Usability; User centered design; Zhangcoding schemes; cognitive engineering; model-driven coding; usability; user requirements; verbal protocol analysis;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Science and Technology for Humanity (TIC-STH), 2009 IEEE Toronto International Conference

Conference_Location

Toronto, ON

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-3877-8

Electronic_ISBN

978-1-4244-3878-5

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/TIC-STH.2009.5444387

Filename

5444387