Index Usability Test Questions
(for online indexes or printed indexes)

Lori Lathrop (copyright, 1999)
Lathrop Media Services
E-mail - LoriLathrop@earthlink.net
Web site - http://www.indexingskills.com

Reminder: The processing required to create a good index happens between your ears, not on your hard drive!


QUESTIONS 		Strongly
Agree
Agree
Not Sure
Disagree 		Strongly
Disagree
1. Navigating the index is easy.
2. The index reflects the terminology
of the document.
3. The index uses consistent terminology.
4. The size of the index seems
appropriate for the document.
5. Information can be retrieved with
no more than three clicks.
6. The index links to substantive
information (not to passing references).
7. The index has a user-centered
design (as opposed to a product-
centered or organization-centered design).
8. The index successfully gathers
information together that is scattered
throughout the text.
9. The index reflects an information
hierarchy.
10. The index entries are concise.
11. The index entries are specifically
worded.
12. The index includes entries for
definitions.
13. The index includes entries for
important concepts.
14. I saw several entries leading to the
information I needed.
15. The index reflects good topic analysis.
16. The index appears to be balanced,
with equal treatment for topics of
similar importance.
17. The index appears to be a good
educational tool.
18. The index contains entries useful to
novices as well as to expert users.
19. The structure of the index is
visually attractive.

Here's a link to my article:
Evaluating Index Usability



Thought for the day - A quote from my Indexing Skills Workshop for Technical Communicators:

Indexes for online documentation are even more important than indexes for printed documentation. Something happens to most people when they get online. It's similar to what happens to me when I get behind the wheel of my little Mazda Miata convertible: I want to get there now, and I don't want anything to get in my way! Similarly, most people become more impatient when they are online. They want instant gratification, and they become very impatient if they do not get it. They want an index that takes them directly to the information they need in just split seconds - so they can get back to work. They do not want to go on a "fishing expedition," which is what they are forced to do if all they have is full text search that yields a gazillion irrelevant hits, doesn't provide them with any real "topic analysis" and, most importantly, can't distinguish between significant information and passing references.