21.07.2013 Views

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 ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

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

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!