USER CHARACTERISTICS CHECKLIST

Click here to download a Microsoft Word 6.0 version of the User Characteristics Checklist.

Instructions For Use

  1. The "User Characteristics Checklist" tool will help you decide upon which user characteristics should be described in the Target Audience Analysis for your project.

  2. Review each of the characteristics with your development team and decide whether a characteristic should be addressed in your project.

  3. Once you have identified the important characteristics, decide whether you have sufficient information about the variance of the characteristics in your target group. If more information is needed, decide how you will find or collect the information.

User Characteristics Checklist

  1. Cognitive Characteristics:

    • general aptitudes
    • specific aptitudes
    • functional literacy (e.g., reading level)
    • visual literacy (e.g., ability to perceive graphics)
    • computer literacy (e.g., ability to use WIMP interface)
    • learning styles
    • metacognitive abilities
    • prerequisite content knowledge

  2. Personality Characteristics:

    • motivation to use this program
    • motivation to learn
    • interests
    • attitudes toward content
    • attitudes toward learning
    • attitudes toward technology
    • self-esteem
    • anxiety
    • beliefs
    • locus of control

  3. Social Characteristics:

    • attitudes toward collaboration
    • tendencies to cooperate or compete
    • relationships with peers
    • socioeconomic status
    • attitudes toward authority
    • racial or ethnic background
    • culture
    • career
    • educational level

  4. Physical Characteristics:

    • visual abilities
    • auditory abilities
    • tactile abilities
    • general health
    • fatigue
    • age
    • sex

This page is presented by the
Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics and Computing (CEISMC)
at Georgia Tech's College of Sciences.