[Sigia-l] User research not usability testing. Was RE: Finding and Choosing a Consultant

[Jared M. Spool]

On Feb 4, 2007, at 3:28 PM, Listera wrote:

> Such testing may answer the "What" or "How" questions. But "Why" is  
> a matter
> of reasoning, deduction, interpretation, etc. So you can *observe*  
> how and
> what users do, but *why* they do it is beyond the confines of  
> usability
> testing. Indeed, when testers get into the realm of "why," they  
> walk right
> into design...and trouble.

We talk about usability testing as if it's a monolithic activity,  
with a single protocol and a single outcome.

But this is not the case. Usability testing is a tool, like a saw.  
And there are as many types of usability test techniques as there are  
types of saws (saws that cut wood, saws that cut plastic, saws that  
cut glass, electric saws, gas-powered saws, manual saws).

Each technique delivers different results. Some techniques, when done  
well, can, in fact, help solidify the inferences, giving insight into  
why users behaved in certain ways. Other techniques will only tell  
you the specific behaviors without giving you any clue as to what  
stimulated the user into behaving that way.

I think, if this conversation is going to go forward, we should at  
least ensure we're on the same page by describing the specific  
testing protocols we're discussing. Otherwise, I think we'll just end  
up talking in circles.

Jared

Jared M. Spool
User Interface Engineering
510 Turnpike St., Suite 102, North Andover, MA 01845
e: jspool at uie.com p: +1 978 327 5561
http://uie.com  Blog: http://uie.com/brainsparks