Week 8 Usability Testing Materials

This week, I'm going to introduce you about the usability testing materials. Here is the link of the article:
http://www.infodesign.com.au/usabilityresources/evaluation/usabilitytestingmaterials.asp


As the author mentioned, there are 7-8 items we need to prepare for usability testing. The first one is the test schedule. We need to prepare and specify it, so everyone can follow the schedule and avoid someone will make hasty changes to schedules if no one knows. In the schedule, the author suggested that we can specify the date and time of each test session, together with the participant name. And we should make sure the schedule can be accessed and known to the relevant parties.


Also, we need to prepare the observer guidelines, since it's important that the observers are informed about appropriate behaviour. Script is needed to prepare too, as we can read a formal script to each participant in order to ensure that all participants receive the same information and avoid giving too much or too little information when we don't have one. Consent form is also needed to prepare for obtaining written consent from the participant, if we want the taping. This consent form should state exactly what we are taping and what the tape will be used for. The other materials we need is task cards. The written description of the task in the card allows the participants to refer back to the card when they are doing the task. If we want to randomise the order of task presentation, we should put the cards in the appropriate sequence before the participant arrives in order to give impression that the moderator is well-prepared. Moreover, there are the logging sheets needed for dropping down notes about what the participant does during the test. The logging sheets can be in free form or detailed ones. The author suggests to use mixed form - free-form sheets, with check-boxes at the bottom to note particular events. Questionnaire is optional to gather demographic information and to obtain subjective feedback and comments.


In my opinion, those materials can help us to prepare well for usability testing and it's easier to make the testing process go smoothly. It's important to be well prepared, so it helps to get actual data from participants(users).