Cyber Security and Social Computing: Situated Usability Testing
Schools or Programs: Computing & Software Systems, Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM)
Location(s): UW Bothell
Quarter(s): Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter
Includes the quarter to apply or participate.
Hours per Week: 1hr - 3hrs
Estimated weekly effort
Compensation: No compensation or volunteer position
Security is almost never the user’s primary task. Research often tries to examine it directly, which isn’t realistic. Situated usability testing in this context involves looking at how people respond to cyber security when performing another task (e.g., online banking).
Project Goals
- Develop online banking scenarios to test security perceptions and behavior,
- Develop and test enhanced security features, and
- Compare the results of experiments when the users are informed that security is the primary task vs. when they are not.
Student Qualifications
- Self-motivated and a strong team player with good communication skills
- Interest in reading, analyzing, understanding, and summarizing prior research
- Creativity
- Ability to program a realistic mock-up of an online banking site
Student Responsibilities
Attend weekly research meetings.