This document discusses different approaches to usability testing, including heuristic analysis, usability testing with user panels, focus groups, and eye tracking. Heuristic analysis involves experts reviewing a site based on recognized usability issues. Usability testing measures user performance on tasks without guidance. Focus groups involve moderated discussions with small groups of users. Eye tracking provides objective data on user eye movements that can complement traditional usability methods. The approaches vary in resources required, costs, and type of output generated.

1. USABILITY TESTING
Common approaches
July 2013
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2. 2
INDEX
1. USER CENTRED DESIGN PROCESS
2. USABILITY TESTING: DIFFERENT APPROACHES
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3. 1. USER CENTRED DESIGN PROCESS
When designing, one of the primary concerns is to clearly understand who the
end users will be and what their work environment is. Then, proceed on a stepbasis-process toward the creation of a prototype, anticipating the final model.
USER TEST
USER TEST
YES
YES
DESIGN
STRATEGY &
ANALYSIS
INFORMATION
ARCHITECTURE
WIREFRAME &
CONTENT
SIGN OFF
PAGE &
TEMPLATE
DESIGN
LOOK & FEEL
PROPOSAL
MOCK UP SAMPLE
SREENS
DESIGN
SPECIFICATION
NO
NO
AGILE AGENCY MODEL
*The process is compliant with ISO 13407, 1999 - Human centred design processes for interactive systems
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DEVELOPMENT

4. 1. USER CENTRED DESIGN PROCESS
User testing can take place while working on the project, in order to evaluate the
effectiveness of design solutions and put into perspective an eventual re-work.
USABILITY TEST
USER TEST
E&
USER TEST
YES
LOOK & FEEL
PROPOSAL
NO
PAGE &
TEMPLATE
DESIGN
MOCK UP SAMPLE
SREENS
DESIGN
SPECIFICATION
NO
4
DEVELOPMENT
REDESIGN

5. 5
INDEX
1. USER CENTRED DESIGN PROCESS
2. USABILITY TESTING: DIFFERENT APPROACHES
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6. 2. USABILITY TESTING: DIFFERENT APPROACHES
Usability tests are a set of different approaches which have the aim to discover
usability issues.
Common approaches:
•
•
•
•
Heuristic analysis
Usability test with user panel
Focus group
Eye tracking
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7. 2.1 USABILITY TESTING: Heuristics
Heuristic Analysis is a usability test performed at least by 2 usability expert. The test
consists of a review that takes into account the usability heuristics (a list of recognized
common usability issues).
• RESOURCES
•
•
2 usability expert
No user involved
COST
Low: is intended to be a “discount usability method”
OUTPUT
Light usability report
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8. 2.2 USABILITY TESTING: User Tests
Usability Test measure actual performance on mission-critical tasks to be completed on a
website or application. The test begin with the identification of the target audience, that
will consist of one or more user groups.
When conducting user testing, the researcher asks participants to complete various tasks
without any guidance (ex: find out how to contact technical support). The facilitator
measure the time taken for each single task/user and issues encountered.
The final output is a usability report that describe and prioritize all the usability issues
found and suggest design action for the redesign of these functionalities.
• RESOURCES
•
•
3 usability expert
15 users to discover 85% of the usability issues
COST
Medium
OUTPUT
Complete usability report
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9. 2.3 USABILITY TESTING: Focus Groups
Focus Group is a guided discussion with a panel of user to assess feelings, attitudes and
thoughts on a given topic.
A moderator facilitates a small group of 4 to 12 participants by demonstrating or showing
them a product or concept. The results of focus groups can be used as a basis for
generating hypotheses for further evaluations.
• RESOURCES
•
•
2 usability expert
4-12 users
COST
High
OUTPUT
User insight report
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10. 2.4 USABILITY TESTING: Eye Tracking
Eye Tracking augments traditional usability methods, and can be used together with them.
This methodology provides researchers and practitioners with objective data that the test
participant cannot report and the researcher cannot observe.
Unique insights about first glance, search patterns, failed search, and much more offer
guidance in how to solve different usability problems.
• RESOURCES
•
•
2 usability expert
10-15 users to have a significant set of data
COST
High
OUTPUT
ET report complementary with the usability report
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11. THANKS!
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