Observational Usability Testing

This web page is designed to provide information on how to prepare and conduct a usability test, specifically an observational test.  The information provided was collected from the references listed.  If you are needing further detail on topics of discussion it may help to refer to the cited reference(s).

INTRODUCTION

1. What is usability testing and observational usability testing?
2. The need for a company to buy into the importance of usabilty testing and the iterative design cycle.
3. What makes Usability Testing Different?
4. Types of Usability Testing available.
5. Pitfalls of Usability Testing.

CONDUCTING A TEST

1. Deciding on the type of test.
2. Test Team members: who should they be?
3. Why a test plan and what are its components?
4. Defining Test goals.
5. Who should be participants?
6. Establishing tasks and scenarios.
7. How to measure performance?
8. Ethics
9. Deciding on a test technique
10. Preparing for the test
11. Conducting the test
12. Laboratories

POINTS TO REMEMBER

REFERENCES

INFORMATIVE LINKS

1. Case Studies
2. Cognitive Walkthrough
3. Exploratory Analysis
4. Heuristics
5. Ethics
6. Basic Concept
7. Prototyping
8. User Centered Design

Created by: Becky Wheat

This web page was developed for a grad class  (Research Methodologies in Human Computer Interaction- CPSC 681) with Saul Greenberg at University of Calgary.