Comparison of State Websites

Idaho and Montana

VS

Kasen Evans English 317

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Table of Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................................3
Methodology...................................................................................................................................3
Test Environment:...................................................................................................................................3
Tasks:........................................................................................................................................................3
Metrics:.....................................................................................................................................................3
Evaluating Criteria:................................................................................................................................3
Results.............................................................................................................................................5
Task 1:......................................................................................................................................................5
Task 2:......................................................................................................................................................5
Task 3:......................................................................................................................................................6
Task 4:......................................................................................................................................................6
Task 5:......................................................................................................................................................7
Task 6:......................................................................................................................................................8
Task 7:......................................................................................................................................................9
Task 8:......................................................................................................................................................9
Task 9:....................................................................................................................................................10
Task 10:..................................................................................................................................................11
Conclusion....................................................................................................................................12
Totals:.....................................................................................................................................................12
Recommendations........................................................................................................................13
Idaho.gov:...............................................................................................................................................13
Mt.gov:....................................................................................................................................................13
Bibliography.................................................................................................................................14
Appendix.......................................................................................................................................15
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Introduction
Idaho and Montana both have state websites that are popular with both residents and
potential tourists. These websites hold information on a lot of different aspects of the states. This
white paper documents the results of usability tests of both state websites after performing 10
tasks. These tasks require basic computer skills to complete.

Methodology
Test Environment:
This test was conducted in my apartment using a MacBook laptop and the latest version
of Safari.

Tasks:
Task 1: Locate contact information for the governor's office.
Task 2: Search for job openings in state departments.
Task 3: Access information on renewing a driver's license.
Task 4: Find the process for registering a business in the state.
Task 5: Locate the state's travel and tourism information, including state parks.
Task 6: Navigate to the public health department.
Task 7: Search for upcoming state government events or public meetings.
Task 8: Access information on applying for state healthcare programs.
Task 9: Access online tax filing services or information.
Task 10: Find out how to register to vote or update voter registration.

Metrics:
Each task will be conducted on both Idaho.gov and mt.gov. To quantify the comparison,
each task will be evaluated by the following five metrics.
Efficient: Users are able to find the information without external help.
Effective: Users can complete tasks quickly with minimal steps.
Engaging: The website's content and layout is pleasing to use.
Error Tolerant: Mistakes were easy to avoid and correctable.
Easy to Complete: Tasks were easy to complete.
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Evaluating Criteria:
Each metric will be evaluated using the following Likert scale. Each task will be
evaluated against the five metrics. The number assigned correlates to the score the website
receives on a given metric. The higher the number, the better the score. The metrics will be
evaluated on a five-point scale, with a maximum score of 250 points.
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Results
Task 1:
To access the governor’s office on the
Idaho.gov website, it was located at the bottom
of the page in the “Elected Officials” section.
Once clicked, I was redirected to the office of
the governor as shown in Figure 1. The contact
information was found available under the
“Contact” drop down on the home page. On
mt.gov, the information for the governor’s Figure 1: Idaho.gov Office of the Governor
office was in the middle of the home screen.
Once opened, I was redirected to the office of
the governor where the contact button was
front, and center as shown in Figure 2. Both
websites did a good job conveying the
information on how to contact the governor,
however, Idaho.gov’s initial placement was not
the best, being at the bottom of the page.

Idaho.gov’s Score: 23
Figure 2: Mt.gov Governor's Office
Mt.gov’s Score: 25
Task 2:
Idaho.gov has a job button in the middle of the home
website, once clicked, I was redirected to the screen as
shown in Figure 3. This allowed me to search for specific
jobs or look for jobs in an area around a ZIP code. I clicked
the “Agencies & Resources” drop down and found other
links relating to other work including state job openings. For
mt.gov, the home website had a “Employment” drop down
on the top of the screen. Once clicked, I was redirected to an
employment information section. This section had a “State
Figure 3: Idaho.gov Job Search
careers” redirect and once clicked it took me to the
page as shown in Figure 4. Clicking the “View and
Apply for Careers” redirected me to a job search page
in which information on jobs around the state could
be accessed. Similarly, to Idaho.gov, I could look for
jobs in certain areas or by different criteria.

Idaho.gov’s Score: 23

Mt.gov’s Score: 21
Figure 4: Mt.gov Employment Information
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Task 3:
On Idaho.gov’s home page, I clicked on the “Services” button, and this redirected me to a
place where I searched “driver’s license”. This search allowed me to access the Idaho
Transportation Department website as shown in Figure 5. Once I clicked the “Renew your
License/ID” button, I was redirected to a page in which an account could be made to renew your
license online. Mt.gov has a resident tab on their home page with a “Driver Services” redirect.
Once clicked, I was redirected to Motor Vehicle Department of Montana website. Under the
License/IDs drop down I clicked DL/ID renewals and was taken to the page shown in Figure 6.
Clicking the “Go to online services” button took me to a place in which someone could renew
their ID/Driver’s license when giving the appropriate information.

Figure 5: Idaho Department of Transportation Information

Figure 6: Montana Vehicle Department License/ID Renewing

Idaho.gov’s Score: 21

Mt.gov’s Score: 18

Task 4:
There is a business drop down on Idaho.gov’s home page that has as “Start a business” and once
clicked, I was taken to a page containing various information on how to start a business as well
as how to register one as shown in Figure 7. Clicking the “Registering Your Business” provided
information on how to register a business in Idaho. On mt.gov’s home page was a hyperlink
titled “Register a Business,” once clicked, it brought me to the Montana Secretary of State
business portal, after clicking the forms button on the left side of the screen, I was presented with
all of the forms needed to start different business types as highlighted in Figure 8.
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Figure 7: Idaho.gov Business Information

Figure 8: Mt.gov's Business Information Forms

Idaho.gov’s Score: 22

Mt.gov’s Score: 22

Task 5:
On Idaho.gov, selecting the "Parks & Camping" hyperlink under the "Residents" drop-
down menu directs users to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, as illustrated in
Figure 9. This website contains all the relevant information on recreation as well as state parks.
Similarly, on mt.gov, under the “Visiting” drop-down, there is a redirect for state parks that takes
you to Montana’s state park website as shown in Figure 10. This also has relevant information on
state parks and other recreational activities in the state.

Figure 9: Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation home

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Figure 10:Montana State Parks home

Idaho.gov’s Score: 24

Mt.gov’s Score: 24

Task 6:
On both websites, the public health information can be found by searching “public
health” in the search bar each site provides. Once clicking the link, you will be taken to the states
respective department of health as shown by Figures 11 and 12. Both websites provide
information on different aspects of health and information.

Figure 11: Idalink Home Page

Figure 12: Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services Home Page
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Idaho.gov’s Score: 24

Mt.gov’s Score: 24

Task 7:
When searching “events” in Idaho.gov’s, there did not seem to be a definite calendar for
the state, rather individual calendars for each department in the state. Meanwhile, searching
“public meetings” took me to Idaho’s public meetings website as shown in Figure 13. From this
website, you can go on to search other various events through the state but getting to this point
was more difficult than anticipated. For Mt.gov, when you search “events” in the search bar, you
are taken to a page displaying the result of “eCalendar.” Once you click on this link, you are
taken to the page as shown in Figure 14. This page allows individuals to search up various events
that are occurring throughout the state.

Figure 13: Idaho Public Meetings Search

Figure 14: Montana eCalendar

Idaho.gov’s Score: 17

Mt.gov’s Score: 23
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Task 8:
By searching “healthcare” in Idaho.gov’s search bar, and clicking on the first result “Idahlink,” it
takes you to the page as shown in Figure 15. From here, you can apply for various state
healthcare programs such as Medicaid and SNAP. On Mt.gov, searching “apply healthcare”
provides a link to Montana Connections. Once opened, it takes you to application page for
Montana’s various state supplemental programs as shown in Figure 16.

Figure 15: Idalink Medicaid and SNAP information and application forms

Figure 16: Montana DPHHS supplemental program applications

Idaho.gov’s Score: 22

Mt.gov’s Score: 21

Task 9:
Under the “Services” drop down on Idaho.gov, there is a “Taxes & Money” hyperlink
that once clicked will take you to a search bar. If you search “Taxes” in this bar, the second link
“File Taxes Online” will take you to the page shown in Figure 17. This page contains
information on how to file taxes as well as the respective forms to file taxes online for both
individuals and families but also businesses. Mt.gov’s main page has a sliding bar in the middle
of the screen. On this screen, there is a link titled “File Your Tax Return or Where’s my
Refund.” Clicking this link will take you to Montana’s TransAction portal, where information on
different services can be found. One of these services is taxes as shown by Figure 18. This
provides links for information on various tax queries.
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Figure 17: Idaho TAP Figure 18: Montana Quick links for Taxes

Idaho.gov’s Score: 22

Mt.gov’s Score: 22

Task 10:
Under the “Government” drop down on Idaho.gov’s main page, there is a hyperlink
named “Voting.” Clicking this link redirects you to Voteidaho.gov where various information on
voting can be found. Under the “Voting” dropdown on this page, there is another link titled
“Registering to Vote.” This link takes you to the page outlined by Figure 19 where someone can
register to vote or check their registration information amongst other information for registering
to vote and the identification needed to do so. By searching “Register to Vote” on Mt.gov’s main
page, it will take you to the online services area where the result of “My Voter Page.” Clicking
this link will redirect you to the page as shown by Figure 20. Clicking the small “Here” button
takes you to a webpage where you can register to vote.

Figure 19: Idaho Voter Information/Registration Forms Figure 20: Montana Voter Lookup/Registration Redirect

Idaho.gov’s Score: 24

Mt.gov’s Score: 20
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Conclusion
After running a usability test on both Idaho.gov and Mt.gov, I found that both websites
are well designed for individuals using them. They both operate similarly with common
functions found on each website. Overall, I found Idaho.gov to be slightly more user friendly
than Mt.gov. Idaho had better redirect that required less maneuverability around the sites it
would take me to. Both websites had the information I needed to complete these tests and can
provide more information on various topics not discussed throughout the test.

Cumulative Scores
25
25 23 24 24 24 24 24
23 23
22 22 22 22 22
21 21 21
20
20 18
17

15
Scores

10

0
Task 1 Task 2 Task 3 Task 4 Task 5 Task 6 Task 7 Task 8 Task 9 Task 10

Idaho.gov Mt.gov

Totals:
Idaho.gov: 222

Mt.gov: 220
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Recommendations
Idaho.gov:
Overall, Idaho.gov performed well throughout all the tests except on where to find
events. The search functionality of the website could be finicky at times and can focus on
information not necessary to the search material. For instance, the first result when calendar was
searched was the calendar for the Idaho Board of Medicine. I would recommend that public
events would have a higher priority in the search algorithm with not such a focus on other
departments or boards.

Mt.gov:
Mt.gov also performed well throughout most of the tests besides getting information on
renewing a driver’s license and registering to vote. When it came to finding information about
renewing a driver’s license, there were a lot of redirects making the whole process inefficient.
The information was also buried on the sites until the final place to actual renew it was found.
Similarly, information on registering to vote was also buried and would take you around to a
couple different redirects. Overall, if the information could be found on the home page or within
the search function easier, it would be a much more efficient process.
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Bibliography
Idaho Department of Administration. (n.d.). Idaho.gov. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from
https://www.idaho.gov/

State of Montana. (n.d.). Montana's Official State Website - mt.gov. Retrieved April 3, 2024,
from https://www.mt.gov/
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Appendix
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