Deliverable 1 White Paper

COMPARISON BETWEEN TWO
WILDLIFE AGENCY WEBSITES

Usability Test of Idaho Department of Fish and Game
and Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks Department
April 15th, 2018
Smith, Cody (smit0738@vandals.uidaho.edu)

Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1
Methods........................................................................................................................................................ 1
Tasks.......................................................................................................................................................... 1
Test Metrics .............................................................................................................................................. 1
Evaluation ................................................................................................................................................. 2
Testing ....................................................................................................................................................... 2
Results........................................................................................................................................................... 2
Task 1: Buying Fishing & Hunting Licenses ............................................................................................... 2
Task 2: Report Poaching............................................................................................................................ 3
Task 3: Finding/ Downloading Seasons & Rules........................................................................................ 4
Task 4: Finding Job Employment Positions ............................................................................................... 5
Task 5: Applying for Hunters Education/ Bow Hunters ............................................................................ 1
Task 6: Locating Harvest Statistics ............................................................................................................ 1
Task 7: Accessing Fish & Wildlife Management Plans .............................................................................. 2
Task 8: Applying for Controlled Draw Hunts ............................................................................................. 3
Task 9: Contacting Agencies...................................................................................................................... 4
Task 10: Leaving Public Comments ........................................................................................................... 5
Conclusion/Recommendations .................................................................................................................... 6
Bibliography.................................................................................................................................................. 7
Appendix-Raw Data...................................................................................................................................... 8
Smith 1
Introduction
Two Fish and Wildlife agencies websites are put through usability testing to determine the pros
and cons of each. Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
Department are commonly used by outdoorsmen such as hunters, fishermen, or hikers. This
white paper shows the usability testing results, specifically how the websites performed in ten
different tasks. Each of the tasks are based on a first-time user of the website that has little to
know experience with using the internet let alone these websites. Each task that was
conducted, a first-time user would need to understand in order to find or download a specific
section. The goal for a website is to have as little steps possible to get the greatest outcome.
Methods
Tasks
Ten tasks were conducted to determine performance of each departments websites. The tasks
are as follows:
1) Buying Fishing & Hunting Licenses
2) Report Poaching
3) Finding/ Downloading Season & Rules
4) Finding Job Employment Positions
5) Applying for Hunters Education/ Bow Hunters
6) Locating Harvest Statistics
7) Accessing Fish & Wildlife Management Plans
8) Applying for Controlled Draw Hunts
9) Contacting Agencies
10) Leaving Public Comments
Idaho Fish and Game Department (IDFG) and Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department
(MFWPD), provide the ability for the viewer to either download certain sections to save on a
personal computer or open the document on a new tab. Usability in both websites has an
impact on the number of individuals that will continuously open and use them.
Test Metrics
To compare websites, identical tasks in both websites will be tested using the five metrics.
These metrics include:
Effective: I was able to successfully complete the task.
Efficient: I was able to complete this task with little to no effort.
Engaging: The bolded titles and easy to follow dropdowns where helpful in completing this task.
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Error Tolerant: Errors were easy to correct. This allowed the task to successfully be completed.
Easy to Learn: I was able to learn the task with ease with little to no effort
Evaluation
Each of the five metrics were evaluated using a Likert Scale. A higher score will result in more
points added. This means that strongly agree will result in four points whereas strongly disagree
will result in one point.
The table below shows the point system:
Table 1: Likert Scale for Testing Usability
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly

Disagree
4 3 2 1
The highest possible amount each task can receive is four points. This means that the total
amount at the end has a maximum of 200 points for each website.
Testing
Testing each of these tasks was conducted on a 13-inch Hewlett Packard (HP) laptop from 2015. The
laptop is running windows processor 8.1 and used a wireless connection to obtain the internet. Both
websites were opened using Google Chrome.
Websites were brought up at the same time by using split screen display option on the laptop in order to
test the usability difference between both. While tasks were in process of being completed, a sheet of
paper which had all the tasks and the five metrics was close by. Each task that was completed or failed
was given an “X” in the appropriate column.
Accounts were created on both Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and Montana Fish, Wildlife, and
Parks Department websites. These accounts allowed me to obtain information on two Individual tasks:
1) Buying Fishing & Hunting Licenses

2) Applying for Controlled Draw Hunts
It was required to place all information including birth date, social security number, name, and address
to be accepted into the account.
Results
Task 1: Buying Fishing & Hunting Licenses
Idaho Department of Fish and Game as well as Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department
both include a way to access your account and purchase licenses, tags, and permits. IDFG has a
button placed on the bottom of the page that states “Buy Licenses” it automatically takes you
Smith 3
to the home page of a sister website where you input your account information and
automatically gain access to purchase a license.
Figure 1: IDFG Home Page of “Buy Licenses”
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department also includes a “Buy a License” button that is
located on the right side of the home page. Clicking on the button will result in the opening of a
new page that begins to ask you a series of questions in order to gain access. Once you have
inputted all of your information you are allowed access to purchase licenses.
Figure 2: MFWPD Home Page of “Buy Licenses”
Task 2: Report Poaching

Idaho Department of Fish and Game uses an efficient and effective way to easily report
poaching. At the bottom of the page, a button states “Report Poaching”. Click on the button
and it will direct you to the report poaching form. If you make a mistake after you have
submitted the report, you are unable to reopen the file. You must either contact the
department or resubmit a new report form.
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Figure 3: IDFG ‘Report a Poacher’ Page
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department poaching page was harder to find. I had to
search “Report Poaching” in order to find it. They do not require you to put your contact
information. They do require you to provide the violation and any details that would help
officers locate the individuals commiting the crime.
Figure 4: MFWPD ‘Report a Poacher’ Page
Task 3: Finding/ Downloading Seasons & Rules

Idaho Department of Fish and Game was given a total of 20 points for this task. It was very easy
to find; you click on the activity you are doing (Hunting or Fishing) and select “seasons & rules”.
This brings up the complete list of all the animal species for hunting or all the bodies of water
for fishing. Once selected the server will automatically start the download process.
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Figure 5: IDFG Seasons and Rules Page
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department was given a total of 15 points. Finding the
seasons and rules was not difficult. Efficiency was graded as “Strongly Disagree” because the
seasons were separate from the rules. You had to download two separate files in order to
obtain the information. Instead of displaying all the groups of species into one folder, MFWP
separated out the species. This is more engaging for the viewer because it is easier to find.
Figure 6: MFWPD Hunting Seasons and Rules

page
Task 4: Finding Job Employment Positions

Idaho Department of Fish and Game received a total of 20 points. To effectively find the page
there is a shortcut at the bottom of the page that states “Employment”. Once you click on the
shortcut, it brings up all the employment opportunities that are located around the state. It also
describes the wages, qualifications, and responsibilities associated with the positions.
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Figure 7: IDFG Employment Page
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department received a total of 17 points for this task. It was
effective because of the shortcut located on the right side of the page. However, it was not
efficient. You had to open 5 different documents to find the listing of employment. The rest of
the five metrics was given a “Strongly Agree”.
Figure 8: MFWPD Employment Page

Smith 1
Task 5: Applying for Hunters Education/ Bow Hunters

Idaho department of Fish and Game
received a high score for this task. In Task 5 Results
total it received 19 points. It was easy 5
Total # of Points
4
to find but lacking efficiency. In order to
3
register for a class, you had to click a 2
total of 4 times in order to bring up the 1
page with all the classes for you to 0
Effective Efficient Engaging Error Easy to
choose. Tolerant Learn
Montana Fish, Wildlife, Parks Type of Metric

Department received a total of 18
Idaho Department of Fish and Game
points. It was lacking efficiency, because
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department
you had to click 4 times to open, as well
as the easy to learn metric because it was
Graph 1: MFWPD & IDFG Task 5 Results
confusing to register for a class.
Task 6: Locating Harvest Statistics

Idaho department of Fish and Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks both contain
the harvest statistics from hunters. IDFG has a more engaging and efficient way to access those
statistics. In total, IDFG received 19 points. Finding it was not an issue, but efficiency was not at
its best. Instead of breaking down the statistics into individual units and species, IDFG only
allows you to open the species and makes you search for the unit.
Figure 9: IDFG Harvest Statistics Report

Smith 2
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department was credited 18 points. It lost its two points in
the “Efficient” section. Instead of allowing the viewer to easily access the district and species,
the viewer also had to include the start year, and end year. Once you filled out those sections,
you had to download the report instead of automatically viewing it.
Figure 10: MFWPD Harvest Statistics Report
Task 7: Accessing Fish & Wildlife Management Plans

Idaho Department of Fish and Game lost this task against Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
Department because it lacked being engaging to the user. IDFG received a total of 19 points,
whereas MFWPD received 20 points. IDFG did not include the all organisms located in the state.
It only listed the high priority animals like elk, wolves, deer, and bear.
Figure 11: IDFG Wildlife Management Plans

Smith 3
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department provides an easy to use, efficient way to
determine what management plans the department is making. MFWPD not only consists of the
high priority animals, but it also consists of the smaller animals such as pine marten, bird
species, and amphibians. The page is organized to distinguish the different animals.
Figure 12: MFWPD Wildlife Management Plans
Task 8: Applying for Controlled Draw Hunts

Idaho Department of Fish and Game received an outstanding total of points. In total it received
all 20/20 points. To apply you use the “Buy License” shortcut located at the bottom of the
home page. It was very efficient since I already knew from a previous task how to open the
licensing page.
Figure 13: IDFG Submit Controlled Hunt Page

Smith 4
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department received a total of 16 points. Every category
received an “Agree” standing. MFWPD does not state where to locate the controlled hunts.
Since I had knowledge of IDFG I looked at Montana’s and in fact was in the same location.
Without knowing IDFG system, finding the application for controlled hunts would have been
difficult.
Figure 14: MFWPD Submit Controlled Hunt Page
Task 9: Contacting Agencies

Idaho Department of Fish and Game as well as Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department
both received 20 points for this task. Both departments had an easy to find shortcut located at
the bottom of the home page. Once opened, both departments show the phone numbers
associated with each region throughout the state.
Smith 5
Figure 13: IDFG Contacting Agencies Page Figure 14: MFWPD Contacting Agencies Page
Task 10: Leaving Public Comments

Idaho Department of Fish and Game once again was beat by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
Department with 19 points. IDFG was lacking in the efficient category because it took 4 clicks
to open the surveys. MFWPD received full points because it had a shortcut button named
“Submit Public Comments”. When you open that shortcut, it lists all the open surveys that the
department is conducting at the time.
Figure 15: IDFG Surveys & Comments Page

Smith 6
Figure 16: MFWPD Surveys & Comments Page
Conclusion/Recommendations
Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department, both
have successful websites. When looking at the total amount of points for all tasks, IDFG
received 190/200, and MFWD received 178/200. This clearly shows that IDFG had the more
user-friendly website. Although MFWD received higher points in task 2, 7, and 10, as well as
tying IDFG in task 9. Both websites struggled with error tolerance in task 2: Report Poaching. I
would recommend the ability for a user to access the file they submitted and change or correct
it and resubmit. Also, when a website had shortcuts located on the home page, it received a
higher score for all categories. I would recommend adding shortcuts for task 5, and 6.
Smith 7
Bibliography
https://idfg.idaho.gov/
http://fwp.mt.gov/
Smith 8
Appendix-Raw Data
Product Idaho Department of Fish and Game Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
Website Department Website
Task 1 Buying Fishing/Hunting License Buying Fishing/Hunting License
Effective I was able to successfully complete this task I was able to successfully complete this task
Strongly Agree Disagree Strongly Strongly Agree Disagree Strongly
Agree Disagree Agree Disagree
x x
Efficient I was able to complete this task with little to I was able to complete this task with little to
no effort no effort
x x
Engaging The bolded titles and easy to follow The bolded titles and easy to follow
dropdowns were helpful in completing this dropdowns were helpful in completing this
task task
x x
Error Errors were easy to correct. This allowed the Errors were easy to correct. This allowed the
Tolerant task to successfully be completed task to successfully be completed
x x
Easy to I was able to learn the task with ease with I was able to learn the task with ease with
Learn little to no effort little to no effort
x x
Total 19 Points 18 Points
Notes IDFG has a total of one step in order to log Montana has a total of three steps in order to
into the server. In order to achieve less log into the server. This department needs to
confusion, the website should include include a help button in case a person doesn’t
categories to locate things faster. understand.
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Task 2 Reporting Poaching Reporting Poaching
x x
no effort no effort
x x
task task
x x
Error Errors were not easy to correct. This allowed Errors were not easy to correct. This allowed
Tolerant the task to not be completed the task to not be completed
x x
x x
Notes IDFG needs to incorporate an error tolerant Montana needs to incorporate an error
poaching page. They could allow the user to tolerant poaching page. They could allow the
reopen what they have submitted and make user to reopen what they have submitted and
changes/corrections. make changes/corrections.
Smith 10
Task 3 Finding/Downloading Seasons/Rules Finding/Downloading Seasons/Rules
x x
no effort no effort
x x
task task
x x
x x
x x
Notes IDFG has an organized way to locate both the Montana needs to compact both the seasons
seasons and rules of all game and fish in the and rules books into one rule/seasons book.
state. This would allow more organization and be
user friendly
Smith 11
Task 4 Finding Job Employment Positions Finding Job Employment Positions
x x
no effort no effort
x x
task task
x x
x x
x x
Notes IDFG has an easy to find and follow Montana does have an employment page,
employment page where people can easily but it was difficult to find. Once I located the
apply for jobs. When on job page, each job is page, determining how to work it was
described with what a person needs to be tedious. They need to implement an
accepted. employment button on the home page.
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Task 5 Applying for Education Applying for Education
x x
no effort no effort
x x
task task
x x
x x
x x
Notes IDFG needs to incorporate an easier way to Montana needs to incorporate an easier way
sign up for education classes. They need to to sign up for education classes. They need to
implement a button on the home page that implement a button on the home page that
immediately takes you to the dates that are immediately takes you to the dates that are
available. available.
Smith 13
Task 6 Locating Harvest Statistics Locating Harvest Statistics
x x
no effort no effort
x x
task task
x x
x x
x x
Notes IDFG needs to have a more efficient way to Montana needs to have a more efficient way
display the harvest statistics. This could to display the harvest statistics. This could
include a dropdown from each year that include a dropdown from each year that
includes the unit and species. includes the unit and species.
Smith 14
Task 7 Accessing Fish & Wildlife Management Plans Accessing Fish & Wildlife Management Plans
x x
no effort no effort
x x
task task
x x
x x
x x
Notes IDFG needs to incorporate all wildlife Montana shows the management plans for all
management plans instead of only the most the organisms both fish and wildlife that live
sought after. This includes all predators, in the state. Each plan is organized to allow
birds, and reptiles. the reader to understand
Smith 15
Task 8 Applying for Controlled Draw Hunts Applying for Controlled Draw Hunts
x x
no effort no effort
x x
task task
x x
x x
x x
Notes IDFG needs to incorporate a section that Montana needs to incorporate an “apply for
states “apply for controlled hunts”. As of now controlled hunts” page. This way people can
all applications are processed through the bypass the logging in portion of the “buy
“buy licenses” page. licenses” page
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Task 9 Contacting Agencies Contacting Agencies
x x
no effort no effort
x x
task task
x x
x x
x x
Notes IDFG has a button located at the bottom of Montana has a button located on the right
the page that states “Contact Us”. When side of the page that states “Contact Us”.
opening the page, it gives you all the contact When opening the page, it gives you all the
info for each department around the state. contact info for each department around the
state.
Smith 17
Task 10 Leaving Public Comments Leaving Public Comments
x x
no effort no effort
x x
task task
x x
x x
x x
Notes IDFG has a comments page but it was difficult Montana has a comments page that is easy to
to find. They need to implement a home find. On the right side of the home page,
button that goes directly to the surveys. It there is a button that states “submit public
would be beneficial to both the department comments”. Click on that at it directs you to
and the people using it. all the surveys.
Smith 18
Points Summary Idaho Department of Montana Fish, Wildlife,

Fish and Game and Parks Department
Buying Fishing/Hunting 19 18
Licenses
Report Poaching 15 16
Finding/Downloading 20 15
Seasons & Rules
Applying for a job 20 17
Applying for Education 19 18
Locating Harvest Statistics 19 18
Access to Fish and Wildlife 19 20
Management Plans
Applying for Controlled draw 20 16
hunts
Contacting Agencies 20 20
Leaving Public Comments 19 20
Total 190 178

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COMPARISON BETWEEN TWO

WILDLIFE AGENCY WEBSITES

April 15th, 2018

Smith, Cody (smit0738@vandals.uidaho.edu)

Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly

1) Buying Fishing & Hunting Licenses

Figure 1: IDFG Home Page of “Buy Licenses”

Figure 2: MFWPD Home Page of “Buy Licenses”

Task 2: Report Poaching

Figure 3: IDFG ‘Report a Poacher’ Page

Figure 4: MFWPD ‘Report a Poacher’ Page

Task 3: Finding/ Downloading Seasons & Rules

Figure 5: IDFG Seasons and Rules Page

Figure 6: MFWPD Hunting Seasons and Rules

Task 4: Finding Job Employment Positions

Figure 7: IDFG Employment Page

Figure 8: MFWPD Employment Page

Task 5: Applying for Hunters Education/ Bow Hunters

Montana Fish, Wildlife, Parks Type of Metric

Task 6: Locating Harvest Statistics

Figure 9: IDFG Harvest Statistics Report

Figure 10: MFWPD Harvest Statistics Report

Task 7: Accessing Fish & Wildlife Management Plans

Figure 11: IDFG Wildlife Management Plans

Figure 12: MFWPD Wildlife Management Plans

Task 8: Applying for Controlled Draw Hunts

Figure 13: IDFG Submit Controlled Hunt Page

Figure 14: MFWPD Submit Controlled Hunt Page

Task 9: Contacting Agencies

Task 10: Leaving Public Comments

Figure 15: IDFG Surveys & Comments Page

Figure 16: MFWPD Surveys & Comments Page

Points Summary Idaho Department of Montana Fish, Wildlife,

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