User Interface Design and Ergonomics - National Open University of ...
User Interface Design and Ergonomics - National Open University of ...
User Interface Design and Ergonomics - National Open University of ...
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Report contents <strong>and</strong> presentation<br />
3.3.2 SELECTING AND ACQUIRING PARTICIPANTS<br />
The selection <strong>and</strong> acquisition <strong>of</strong> participant whose background <strong>and</strong> abilities are<br />
representative <strong>of</strong> your product‘s intended end user is a crucial element <strong>of</strong> the testing<br />
process. After all, your test result will only be valid if the people you test are typical<br />
end users <strong>of</strong> the product, or as close to that criterion as possible. If you test the<br />
“wrong” people, it does not matter how much effort you put into the rest <strong>of</strong> the test<br />
preparation. Your result will be questionable <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> limited value.<br />
Selecting participants involves identifying <strong>and</strong> describing the relevant skills <strong>and</strong><br />
knowledge <strong>of</strong> the person(s) who will use your product. This description is known as<br />
user pr<strong>of</strong>ile or user characterization <strong>of</strong> the target population <strong>and</strong> should have been<br />
developed in the earl stages <strong>of</strong> the product development. Then, once that has been<br />
determined, you must ascertain the most effective way to acquire people from this<br />
target population to serve as participants within your constraints <strong>of</strong> time, money,<br />
resources, <strong>and</strong> so on.<br />
3.3.3 PREPARING THE TEST MATERIALS<br />
One <strong>of</strong> the more labour-intensive activities required to conduct a usability test is<br />
developing the test material that will be used to communicate with the participants,<br />
collect the data, <strong>and</strong> satisfy legal requirements. It is important to develop all important<br />
test materials well in advance <strong>of</strong> the time you will need them. Apart from the obvious<br />
benefit <strong>of</strong> not having to scurry around at the last minute, developing materials early<br />
on helps to explicitly structure <strong>and</strong> organize the test. In fact, if you have difficulty<br />
developing one particular type <strong>of</strong> test material, it can be a sign that there are flaws in<br />
your test objectives <strong>and</strong> test design.<br />
While the specific content <strong>of</strong> the materials will vary from test to test, the general<br />
categories required will hardly vary at all. This chapter contains a list <strong>of</strong> the most<br />
common materials you need to develop a test, as well as examples <strong>of</strong> the various types<br />
<strong>of</strong> test materials. As you develop them, think <strong>of</strong> these materials as aids to the testing<br />
process. Once they are developed, their natural flow will guide the test for you. Be<br />
sure to leave enough time to include the materials in your pilot test. The test materials<br />
reviewed in this chapter are as follows:<br />
• Screening questionnaire<br />
• Orientation script<br />
• Background questionnaire<br />
• Data collection instruments (data loggers)<br />
• Nondisclosure agreement <strong>and</strong> tape consent form<br />
• Pre-test questionnaire<br />
• Task scenarios<br />
• Prerequisite training materials<br />
• Post-test questionnaire<br />
• Debriefing topics guide