Professor
Education
Ph.D., Texas Christian University
M.A., Brigham Young University
B.S., Brigham Young University
Kathryn Summers is a professor in the Division of Science, Information Arts and Technologies at the University of Baltimore, where she also directs the D.Sc. in Information and Interaction Design and the User Research Lab. Her research focuses on making voting activities and online information--particularly medical information--more usable and accessible through inclusive design. Her focus is on developing design guidelines to benefit individuals with varying levels of literacy and those who use assistive technology. Dr. Summers holds a Ph.D. from Texas Christian University, as well as B.A. and M.A. degrees from Brigham Young University. Her work involves qualitative observational research, often combined with quantitative eye-tracking measurements, to improve the design of online information, forms, and interfaces.
Kathryn Summers' research agenda is to enhance the usability and accessibility of digital interfaces, particularly in critical domains such as voting and online health information. Her work employs inclusive design principles to improve the experience for diverse user groups, with a specific focus on individuals with lower literacy skills and those who utilize assistive technologies. Dr. Summers utilizes qualitative observational methodologies, often combined with eye-tracking, to investigate user interactions with online forms and information. ultimately, her goal is to develop design guidelines and strategies that promote greater civic engagement and greater equity in access to essential online resources.
Human/computer Interaction; User research and usability testing methods; Interaction and information architecture.
Book Chapters
Summers, K. (2024). Enhancing health literacy through user testing: Iterative design for plain language and plain interaction. Elsevier. 129-137.
Summers, K. (2024). Enhancing health literacy through user testing: Iterative design for plain language and plain interaction. Elsevier. 129-137.
Summers, Kathryn , DeGeal, Jacob (Co-Principal), "Provisional Voting & Polling Place Materials" Sponsored by MD State Board of Elections, State, $20000. (2022 - 2023).
Summers, Kathryn (Principal), "Usability of MD vote by mail materials" Sponsored by State Board of Elections, State, $31888. (2021).
Summers, Kathryn (Principal), "Usability of Voting Materials 2020" Sponsored by MD State Board of Elections, State, $27000. (2020).
"Voting in a pandemic: Urban diary study 2020" (Writing Results)
Data was collected through interviews and through two weeks of responses to daily text messsage prompts about the emotions, activities, and priorities experienced during the final two weeks of the federal general election in 2020. Thirty participants.