Thesis Research

M.A. Digital Communication

The problem

How can four-year institutions of higher education communicate the holistic cost of college on their websites in a way that is easier to understand for first-generation students and their families?

That’s the question that drove my thesis research for my M.A. in Digital Communication at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media. I approached this problem from a UX design and content design perspective.

The Process

To learn more about this challenge, I conducted usability testing of three university sites with first-generation college students and a family member of a first-gen college student. Each participant completed a short interview prior to the usability testing and a survey following the testing.

Participants were provided with different scenarios for each institution, but were asked to complete the same tasks. A copy of one of the usability test scripts is embedded on this page.

Next, I combined what I had learned from my literature review with insights from the usability tests to develop informed recommendations for the following categories:

  • Content design

  • Navigation and information architecture

  • Improving the Net Price Calculator

  • Communicating student loan information

  • Use of AI chat bots

The Result

In addition to presenting my findings and recommendations in my thesis defense, I developed a wireframe in Figma for a Net Price Calculator output that incorporates those recommendations.

I was also selected to present my findings at UX Y’all, a regional conference for UX and product designers.

Speaking about my research at UX Y’all, a regional conference for UX and product designers.
Photo credit: Tommy Coyote

The screengrab above shows part of the wireframe I created for my thesis.