Joan Cherry is Professor at the Faculty of Information Studies at the University of Toronto.  She holds a doctorate in information science from the University of Pittsburgh.  Her research interests are in the area of human computer interaction.  Her recent work has included evaluation of web design guidelines (with Paul Muter & Steve Szigiti), usability studies of the Text Analysis Portal for Research (TAPoR) (with Wendy Duff), and the development of instruments for user evaluation of virtual archives (with Wendy Duff).  She is also conducting a longitudinal study of students’ perceptions of the quality of master’s programs in information studies (with Wendy Duff and Nalini Singh).  Earlier work included user studies studies of Early Canadiana Online (with Wendy Duff), evaluation of displays for web-based library catalogues (with Joe Cox), user satisfaction studies of online public access catalogues (with Marshall Clinton), and design and evaluation of online help systems (with So-Ryang Jackson).

Professor Cherry is active in research ethics.  She has chaired the university’s Social Sciences and Humanities Research Ethics Board and has been a member of the Committee on Human Subjects in Research which advises the Vice-President (Research) on policy and procedures with respect to the use of human subjects in research. She is a member of the National Council on Ethics in Human Research (NCEHR).  Her current teaching interests include research methods and the design of electronic text.