Zenodo Information Architecture and Usability

Executive Summary

Zenodo, a simple and innovative open science research data repository built by CERN for the world, is rapidly gaining popularity and growing fast.

The aim of this openlab summer student project is to 1) conduct a thorough usability study of Zenodo, to ensure that the simplicity of the service is maintained despite rapid growth, and 2) help implement the outcome of the study as well as to identify and write key guides to increase engagement with end-users. The usability study will focus both the general Information Architecture as well as UX/UI, data model and application profile.

The project is expected to employ a suite of usability evaluations methods such as card sorting, heuristic evaluation and A/B testing.

Abstract

Once a digital repository reaches the stage where Zenodo is, the next step is to review the site to improve usability.  This usability overview revealed a strong need for help guides to assist users and additional policies and documentation to be written and/or made openly available in order to meet best practices standards such as ISO 16363.  As such, over the course of the 2015 openlab internship, user guides were created in order to improve the user experience and to resolve the problem of insufficient documentation on a variety of topics.  Several topics covered were Zenodo specific while others are more general issues important to all digital repositories.  In order to achieve compliance with best practices, a review of authoritative documentation was performed.  Required policies were outlined in detail and passed along to management for completion.  The documentation consulted was Data Seal of Approval, ISO 16363, and the requirements for a particular publisher’s data integration program.  To certify its successful compliance with best practices, upon the completion of additional documentation, Zenodo will apply for the Data Seal of Approval.