UI/UX and Media Studies

For more than thirty years, Rockman et al Cooperative has been working with the world’s leading media creators to conduct early-stage product testing and design studies that measure the impacts of finished media products and programs. Our skilled team members design and implement UI/UX testing plans to test functionality and usage-outcomes of media apps and websites in any stage of the development process. We have also been trailblazers in the development of early-stage testing procedures for audio and video programs. We are equally skilled in our ability to design studies that test the impacts and outcomes of media products, including apps, online games, websites, as well as other interactive digital media, including broadcast programs, streaming video and audio programs.

Selected examples of our UI/UX and Media Studies projects are below. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your project with you and to provide you with more information about our tailored services. Please Contact Us to schedule a free 30-minute Q&A session with a consultant.

 

Selected Projects Include

  • Photo courtesy of Twin Cities Public Television.

    Rigorous testing of Skillsville Digital Media Programs for Children and Families

    REA provided formative evaluation and summative research services for TPT’s second Ready to Learn grant which created a set of educational media experiences centered around Skillsville. Our formative evaluation efforts for this project included numerous rounds of game testing and storybook testing. Additionally, we designed and implemented a rigorous quasi-experimental study to test impacts of the program with more than 300 youth in after-school programs throughout the United States.

  • Photo courtesy of PBS KIDS.

    Episode testing for Elinor Wonders Why

    After decades of conducting early-stage usability testing for interactive digital media products, we also began experimenting with different strategies to get audience feedback for video programs at earlier stages in their development process. We have subsequently evolved methods for testing show concepts/idea pitches, episode outlines, early stage scripts, animatics, and rough cut versions of episodes. Much of our testing is done at the outline or early scripting stage, with what we’ve come to refer to as “storybooks.” These are digital slide decks, created with existing show artwork and other assets, that are designed to look like a physical storybook which can be read-aloud to kids in online or face-to-face testing sessions with groups or individuals. We have conducted storybook testing for both seasons of Elinor Wonders Why, as well as the following series: Skillsville, The Cat and the Hat, Molly of Denali, Ruff Ruffman shorts, Ready Jet Go!, Work It Out Wombats, Phoebe and Jay, Lyla in the Loop, Peg + Cat, and more!

  • Photo courtesy of Twin Cities Public Television.

    Script-testing for When Whales Walked

    REA conducted a front-end study that explored parents’ understanding of evolution and big history, interest in STEM and specific evolutionary topics, and experiences with and beliefs about family-based learning experiences. During the formative stage, the external evaluation gathered feedback on early iterations of the When Whales Walked video program at key points during its development process. Focus groups were also convened to assess adults’ understanding of concepts related to evolution and attitudes toward family co-learning and VR-based educational experiences. During the summative evaluation stage, we examined the breadth and depth of programmatic impacts on families who participated in Fossil Festival events at various sites around the United States. Evaluation at this stage included comparisons within and between sites and an evaluative study on the impact of video viewership on resulting VR and hands-on experiences.

  • Photo courtesy of PBS KIDS.

    Digital Games and Apps Testing for PBS KIDS

    For more than two decades, our team members have worked with PBS KIDS to test online games and activities at various stages in their development process, including paper prototype testing, UI/UX testing at alpha and beta stages for digital products, and extended-play studies that explored usage trends over longer periods of time. We have playtested games for Odd Squad, Dinosaur Train, Ruff Ruffman, Molly of Denali, The Cat and the Hat, Elinor Wonders Why, Peg + Cat, Work It Out Wombats, Lyla in the Loop, Ready Jet Go, Phoebe and Jay, SuperWhy, Sid the Science Kid and more! We have also conducted playtesting sessions with adults for apps and websites designed for parents including the PBS Parents Play and Learn app, WNET’s Let’s Learn website, and more.

  • Photo courtesy of PBS KIDS.

    Testing outcomes of Cyberchase viewing among elementary school students

    REA conducted a quasi-experimental design study with students in four schools located in Indiana and Arizona. Nearly 300 children participated and findings revealed the impacts of Cyberchase programming on a variety of STEM learning and attitudinal outcomes as well as environmental science knowledge, attitudes and beliefs.