Research Objective:
To compare the user experience of finding retirement planning information between NerdWallet and Charles Schwab, and determine if users find information more easily on NerdWallet.

Hypothesis: Users find information about planning for retirement more easily on NerdWallet over Charles Schwab.

Methodology: Remote unmoderated between-subjects comparative study.

Participants:

• Target demographic: Individuals who are interested in retirement planning, aged 30-60.
• Sample size: Aim for at least 50 participants per website (NerdWallet and Charles Schwab), resulting in a total of 100 participants.

Metrics:

1. SUPR-Q (Standardized User Experience Percentile Rank Questionnaire): Measures the user experience and satisfaction.
2. UX-Lite: Provides a quick assessment of the user experience.
3. Likelihood to recommend: Measures the participants’ likelihood to recommend the website.
4. Confidence: Assesses participants’ confidence in finding retirement planning information.
5. Brand attitude: Evaluates participants’ perception and attitude towards the brand.

Tasks:

1. Task 1: Find basic educational information about how to begin planning for retirement.
2. Task 2: Find what kinds of products or services might be included in a retirement plan.
3. Task 3: Identify where to look for information to help make savings last in retirement.

Procedure:

1. Recruitment:
   • MUiQ
   • Screen participants based on age, interest in retirement planning, and familiarity with NerdWallet and Charles Schwab.
   • Obtain informed consent from participants.
2. Pre-test questionnaire:
   • Collect demographic information (age, gender, income, etc.).
   • Determine participants’ familiarity with NerdWallet and Charles Schwab.
   • Gather participants’ prior experience and knowledge of retirement planning.
3. Random assignment:
   • Randomly assign participants to one of two groups: Group A (NerdWallet) and Group B (Charles Schwab).
4. Instructions:
   • Provide participants with clear instructions for the study.
   • Inform participants about the tasks they need to complete and their objectives.
   • Encourage participants to think aloud while performing the tasks.
5. Task execution:
   • Allow participants to navigate the assigned website to complete the tasks.
   • Monitor and record participants’ interactions, including mouse movements and clicks.
6. Post-task questionnaire:
   • Measure participants’ satisfaction using SUPR-Q and UX-Lite.
   • Assess participants’ likelihood to recommend the website.
   • Evaluate participants’ confidence in finding retirement planning information.
   • Capture participants’ brand attitude towards the website.
7. Data analysis:
   • Analyze quantitative data using appropriate statistical techniques (e.g., t-tests, chi-square tests) to compare the metrics between the two groups.
   • Analyze qualitative data from participants’ think-aloud sessions to identify common issues or usability problems.
8. Reporting:
   • Summarize the findings from the study, including the comparison of metrics between NerdWallet and Charles Schwab.
   • Present the results in a clear and concise manner, including visualizations if applicable.
   • Provide actionable recommendations for each website based on the research findings.

Note: The unmoderated nature of this study means that participants will not have a moderator present to assist them or answer questions. They will rely solely on their own abilities to complete the tasks.