[Sigia-l] Usability Testing

[Donna Maurer]

Oh, I wasn't implying that I should be the only person who works on a 
design. I truly believe in teamwork, and real user involvement*. I just 
don't believe that usability testing provides the best possible input. 
Particularly usability testing from someone uninvolved...

And as for the number of people involved in a usability test, more 
really is better. I don't take individual comments and suggestions from 
participants - I want to see the main issues and patterns. I like 
conflicting evidence - gives me things to think about. But that is not 
possible with 4 participants.

* I also don't think usability testing is real user involvement.

Donna

Will Parker wrote:
> On Jan 22, 2007, at 1:01 AM, Donna Maurer wrote:
>
> I understand where you're coming from with that, but as someone coming 
> to design from the tech support and QA testing (not not usability 
> testing) fields, I have a different perspective, which is grounded on 
> the fact that even the most talented designer is going to make some 
> howling mistakes from time to time.
>
> Every project needs an editor (including writing emails, according to 
> my wife), and chief usability engineers (whether they have that job 
> title or not) fill that role. And editors, no matter what they're 
> editing, serve best when editing least -- by questioning assumptions 
> and goals and suggesting different outcomes.
>
> As for testing using a small group of subjects, that actually is going 
> to make your life easier as a designer -- if it were a large group, 
> your design would be transformed into flavorless goo by the 
> conflicting evidence from six or eight subgroups. If there's a real 
> mistake, a good usability person can sort it out with a small set of 
> examples -- just as *you* can and routinely doi, wearing your 
> designer's hat.
>


-- 
Donna Maurer
Maadmob Interaction Design
e: donna at maadmob.net
web: http://maadmob.net/maadmob_id/
book: http://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/cardsorting/