Affordance and Challenges with Completing a Search on a Web- based Video Streaming Service

Abstract: Search on video streaming services is significantly different from web search engines and traditional information retrieval systems. Although an internal site search function’s primary purpose is similar to a web search engine’s, the user’s needs differ, which calls for a different design approach regarding the search result. Many previous researchers have investigated the algorithms behind search functions. However, there is a lack of studies related to the user experience of a search's user interface within the video streaming industry. This study investigates how different presentations of search results affect the users to complete a search on web-based video streaming services. The study was done in collaboration with SVT, examining their video streaming service SVT Play. The research aimed to answer three research questions based on the official usability standard ISO 9241–11. A prototype was designed from a state-of-the-art analysis and the findings from three focus group interviews. An A/B test was conducted on the developed prototype, comparing it against the original search function live on SVT Play, including 46 860 test users. A complementary user test with 10 participants was done in addition to the A/B test. The findings from the A/B test did not show any significant difference between the prototypes. It highlighted that users’ search goals are strong enough not to let the layout and design affect their choice, hence the overall click-through rates. However, the user test showed that the new prototype was, in general, easier to use. It also showed that the different prototypes suited different search goals. The participants expressed a wish to have a solution that combines the design elements from the two prototypes.