[Sigia-l] comparative usability testing of a web site resedign

[Beatrice Ghiglione]

Hi all,
I need to carry out a usability testing activity on the new interface of a professional web magazine.
The request comes directly form our client: they want to test if everyday users of this professional website are able to recognize the reorganisation of contents in the new navigation bar and what the new labels refer to.
I have at disposal 8 old users and 8 new target users to carry out tests.

We have by now developed only a graphical proposal of the new homepage and first level and would like to make a comparative test of this new proposal with the old website.
I would like to test on one side with card sorting exercise,  the new labels with old users to see if they recognize what they related to.
On the other side I would like to check if they are able to "read" the new homepage and find out and "understand" the most relevant changes.
However I am not sure how to carry out this second testing: is it useful to compare the earlier version with the second or should I show the new version and let the users "rely only  their memory" regarding the previous interface?
Moreover what should I test with the group of new users?

Any suggestion on how to carry out this testing? Any book/web reference on this specific issue?

Thanks!!

Ciao

Beatrice