Usability Services

I saw a notice that the government intends to procure the services of a specific company to provide a tool for usability purposes. It seems that there is much less competition than I thought (a sole source is necessary). I thought more firms were capable of providing that service. Could it be that the company is the only one with the technical know-how or facilities to provide the tool?

Contracting Opportunities

I spent some time looking through contracting opportunities with the federal government. I am interested in learning more about their solicitations for survey services, writing services, and usability/design (I am available for work in these areas. For additional information on my background in survey services and usability, see Post on background in statistics and Post on design/usability experience). I found two interesting opportunities/solicitations - one for preparing patient satisfaction surveys and the other for Data Repository and User Interface Design. I wish I had information on the companies planning to submit proposals.

 Patient satisfaction surveys:

Data Repository and User Interface Design:

Another Paper For Publishing

I submitted another article for publishing.

I am planning to submit the paper I prepared on improving e-commerce websites for the Research Design course. I like that paper. In the paper, I included user/usability testing of website designs in a lab, much like the testing I assisted with at USPTO.

The professor was tough. I also did not have the textbook (due to financial constraints). I recall that one of the assignments required completion of exercises in the textbook. I actually visited the library at the University of Florida (UF) to get hold of the book. I got an older version of the textbook that sufficed. Then, I was able to start work on the assignment. (Here is the blog post on the assignment: http://moorefo1ncuresearchdesign.blogspot.com/2016/11/waiting-for-book-for-assignment.html 

The library I visited was in the medical building/section on campus. I took the bus there. I rode that bus a lot.

The blog for the course is available at: http://moorefo1ncuresearchdesign.blogspot.com/

I now specialize in usability studies and tests. I am seeking a Usability/UX Researcher position. View my design/usability experience at: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/fahmeenamoore_2015calendarimagesfahmeenaodettamoore-activity-6949154430164365312-KcKX

(posted using mobile phone)

Article for MIAW, Survey Services

I started writing my article for Mental Illness Awareness Week, but got distracted. This is what I have so far:

There is a lot of talk/discussion about the impact of workplace stress on employee mental health, but that is not my story.

I am not sure when, why and how I developed my mental illness. I recall having issues when I was a full-time student. At first, I didn't know what was wrong. I felt ill.


I went to review contracting opportunities and discovered a request for survey services.
The contractor needs to prepare and administer an employee engagement survey at a major organization.
The organization seems to be expecting proposals from research companies rather than from individuals. Proposals are due in a week. I am reviewing the performance work statement to see what is expected/required. Very interesting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Background In Statistical Analysis, Surveys

Using a questionnaire to collect information from people (conducting surveys) is an important part of research. I have lots of experience conducting surveys. My first survey was for an A-Level project at President's College. The course/subject was Pure Mathematics with Statistics (it was for the Statistics part). I designed the questionnaire and went out into the field to collect information from participants. That was about 30 years ago.

From Statistics, I learned how to prepare statistical summaries or reports that summarize information by providing statistics. Those are the reports that include statements such as: Expenditures increased by 20% to reach $1M. Such reports are used a lot in finance and economics. An example is the report 'Trends in health care spending' by AMA, available at: https://www.ama-assn.org/about/research/trends-health-care-spending.

During my PhD studies, I prepared a paper on the design of surveys/questionnaires for research. In that paper, I reviewed an actual survey. I learned current techniques as well as survey design issues.

Usability Opportunities

I discovered that the federal government awards contracts for usability testing. An example is the award of a contract to UserWorks, Inc. to conduct focus groups and usability testing of FirstGov.gov
(see https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/newsroom/news-releases/gsa-awards-firstgov-usability-contract-to-userworks-of-silver-spring-md).

I am definitely interested in these opportunities.

From the company webiste, UserWorks (http://www.userworks.com/index.html) seems like a good company. It is a user experience design and usability engineering firm. The team there seems outstanding. I hope it is not true that the firm is going out of business.

I will look into other usability testing firms. Some consulting firms may have UX/UI departments/areas that bid for usability contracts.
An example: I learned of a firm called Applied Information Sciences from the LinkedIn profile of UX Researcher Weimin Hou (https://www.linkedin.com/in/weiminhou) who has a PhD in Information Systems from UMBC, Human-Computer Interaction Track.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract Work

This is a staffing firm but the IT version of it:
https://www.upwork.com/
(website for contract workers by Upwork, formerly Odesk)

I signed up for an account at Odesk.com many years ago. I have not been using the account.