Testing & Evaluation
UsabilityUsability testing is a crucial step in the evaluation stage.
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What is Usability Testing?
Usability testing or assessment involves getting the product in front of an actual user and watching and monitoring their interactions with the product. Nemeth (2004) offers a list of types of usability assessment methods. Measurement of usability can involve time to complete task, accuracy, and self report ratings, although, as a scientific discipline, there is a call to make psychometrics of usability measurement more explicit, with a backing theory (refer to Gillan & Bias 2001; 2013, for a coverage of this topic).
Why Use Usability Testing?
You will want to do usability testing to determine if users have any difficulties, or if there are opportunities to add needed elements or features to your product..
Not convinced? Perhaps you should read this article, about how usability testing uncovered an interface error that when corrected, increased revenues by ...meh.. $300 million.
http://www.uie.com/articles/three_hund_million_button/
Not convinced? Perhaps you should read this article, about how usability testing uncovered an interface error that when corrected, increased revenues by ...meh.. $300 million.
http://www.uie.com/articles/three_hund_million_button/
When Use Usability Testing?
Use usability testing after you have something to present to the users you can have a prototype, or even use a wizard-of-oz method to simulate interactions with your product. Nemeth (2004) also offers a list of when to do which types of usability tests.
How to do Usability Testing?
The general process is as follows:
A list of Website Usability testing tools:
http://www.usefulusability.com/24-usability-testing-tools/#CrazyEgg
- Step 1—Determine the need for conducting the test
- Step 2—Plan the test (have specific questions in mind)
- Step 3—Recruit participants
- Step 4—Develop test materials
- Step 5—Prepare any equipment, and train test administrators
- Step 6—Pilot test - making any necessary adjustments
- Step 7—Conduct the tests
- Step 8—Compile, summarize, and analyze the data t
- Step 9—Report and/or present test findings and recommendations, along with justification for product improvement.
A list of Website Usability testing tools:
http://www.usefulusability.com/24-usability-testing-tools/#CrazyEgg
References & Resources:
1. Nemeth, C. P. (2004). Human factors methods for design: Making systems human-centered. Taylor & Francis.
2. Gillan, D. J., & Bias, R. G. (2001). Usability science. I: foundations.International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 13(4), 351-372.
3. Gillan, D.J. , & Bias, R.G. (2013). Usability Science II: Measurement. The Psychology of Workplace Technology, 162.
online resources:
http://www.usefulusability.com/24-usability-testing-tools/http://www.uie.com/articles/three_hund_million_button/
2. Gillan, D. J., & Bias, R. G. (2001). Usability science. I: foundations.International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 13(4), 351-372.
3. Gillan, D.J. , & Bias, R.G. (2013). Usability Science II: Measurement. The Psychology of Workplace Technology, 162.
online resources:
http://www.usefulusability.com/24-usability-testing-tools/http://www.uie.com/articles/three_hund_million_button/