Book•
Understanding Your Users: A Practical Guide to User Requirements Methods, Tools, and Techniques
11 Jan 2005-
TL;DR: Usability Testing Essentials presents a practical, step-by-step approach to learning the entire process of planning and conducting a usability test, and explains how to analyze and apply the results and what to do when confronted with budgetary and time restrictions.
Abstract: Do you love your mobile phone? Your MP3 player? Your e-book reader? You laptop or tablet PC? There's a reason for that. Usability. When usability testing is part of the design and development of products, the results are better products that users want and like. You may be doing testing now or want to help your company get started, but you may not have all the tools to know how to properly prepare, test, analyze, and measure the results across a multitude of cultures, generations, and countries. And you may be facing tight budgets and short timeframes for testing. If this is your situation, this essential handbook gives you a variety of options and strategies for testing in numerous situations. Usability Testing Essentials presents a practical, step-by-step approach to learning the entire process of planning and conducting a usability test. It also explains how to analyze and apply the results and what to do when confronted with budgetary and time restrictions. This is the ideal book for anyone involved in usability or user-centered design-from students to seasoned professionals. *Provides comprehensive coverage of all phases of usability testing *Fully updated four color edition features important usability topics such as international testing, persona creation, remote testing, and accessibility *Follow-up to Usability Testing and Research (9780205315192, Longman, 2002), winner of the highest-level award from the Society for Technical Communication *Presents a step-by-step approach to the entire process of planning and conducting a usability test--an essential component of designing usable products*Comprehensive coverage of one of the most important skills necesary for usability and user experience practioners, and the first book of its kind to include international testing*Follow-up to Usability Testing and Research, which won the highest-level award from the Society for Technical Communication, and is already listed among the most widely recommended books in the field.
Citations
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Book•
24 May 2008TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a handbook for the evaluation of interactive products designed for children, including toys, games, educational products, or websites, based on workshops, conference courses, and own design experience and research.
Abstract: Interactive products designed for children--whether toys, games, educational products, or websites--are increasingly embedded in children's lives and school experiences. Making these products safe, effective, and entertaining requires new methodologies for carrying out sound and unbiased evaluations for these users with unique requirements, environments, and ethical considerations.
This book directly addresses this need by thoroughly covering the evaluation of all types of interactive technology for children. Based on the authors' workshops, conference courses, and own design experience and research, this highly practical book reads like a handbook, while being thoroughly grounded in the latest research. Throughout, the authors illustrate techniques and principles with numerous mini case studies and highlight practical information in tips and exercises and conclude with three in-depth case studies. Essential reading for usability experts, product developers, and researchers in the field.
* Presents an essential background in child development and child psychology, particularly as they relate to technology.
* Captures best practices for observing and surveying children, training evaluators, and capturing the child user experience using audio and visual technology.
* Examines ethical and legal issues involved in working with children and offers guidelines for effective risk management.
239 citations
TL;DR: How common difficulties encountered when attempting to implement or scale-up evidence-based treatments are exacerbated by fundamental design problems are articulated, which may be addressed by a set of principles and methods drawn from the contemporary field of user-centered design.
Abstract: The current paper articulates how common difficulties encountered when attempting to implement or scale-up evidence-based treatments are exacerbated by fundamental design problems, which may be addressed by a set of principles and methods drawn from the contemporary field of user-centered design. User-centered design is an approach to product development that grounds the process in information collected about the individuals and settings where products will ultimately be used. To demonstrate the utility of this perspective, we present four design concepts and methods: (a) clear identification of end users and their needs, (b) prototyping/rapid iteration, (c) simplifying existing intervention parameters/procedures, and (d) exploiting natural constraints. We conclude with a brief design-focused research agenda for the developers and implementers of evidence-based treatments.
223 citations
Cites background from "Understanding Your Users: A Practic..."
...UCD is an approach to product development that grounds the process in information about the people who will ultimately use the product (Courage & Baxter, 2005; Norman & Draper, 1986)....
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TL;DR: Myfood24 is the first online 24-h dietary recall tool for use with different age groups in the UK and usability testing indicates that the tool is suitable for use in UK adolescents and adults.
Abstract: Assessment of diet in large epidemiological studies can be costly and time consuming. An automated dietary assessment system could potentially reduce researcher burden by automatically coding food records. myfood24 (Measure Your Food on One Day) an online 24-h dietary assessment tool (with the flexibility to be used for multiple 24 h-dietary recalls or as a food diary), has been developed for use in the UK population. Development of myfood24 was a multi-stage process. Focus groups conducted with three age groups, adolescents (11–18 years) (n = 28), adults (19–64 years) (n = 24) and older adults (≥65 years) (n = 5) informed the development of the tool, and usability testing was conducted with beta (adolescents n = 14, adults n = 8, older adults n = 1) and live (adolescents n = 70, adults n = 20, older adults n = 4) versions. Median system usability scale (SUS) scores (measured on a scale of 0–100) in adolescents and adults were marginal for the beta version (adolescents median SUS = 66, interquartile range (IQR) = 20; adults median SUS = 68, IQR = 40) and good for the live version (adolescents median SUS = 73, IQR = 22; adults median SUS = 80, IQR = 25). Myfood24 is the first online 24-h dietary recall tool for use with different age groups in the UK. Usability testing indicates that myfood24 is suitable for use in UK adolescents and adults.
135 citations
[...]
TL;DR: In this article, the authors trace and historicize two of the most common contextual research methods: participant observation and contextual inquiry, and describe how these methods have evolved, describe the need for these methods to support experience design research, and make the case for interdisciplinary collaboration through clarifying these practices.
Abstract: In this paper, we trace and historicize two of the most common contextual research methods: Participant Observation and Contextual Inquiry. In doing so, we describe how these methods have evolved, describe the need for these methods to support Experience Design research, and make the case for interdisciplinary collaboration through clarifying these practices.
129 citations
Book•
26 Dec 2006
TL;DR: This practical, informative book will help anyone--whether or not one has artistic talent, access to special tools, or programming ability--to use good prototyping style, methods, and tools to build prototypes and manage for effective prototyping.
Abstract: Much as we hate to admit it, most prototyping practice lacks a sophisticated understanding of the broad concepts of prototyping--and its strategic position within the development process. Often we overwhelm with a high fidelity prototype that designs us into a corner. Or, we can underwhelm with a prototype with too much ambiguity and flexibility to be of much use in the software development process.
This book will help software makers--developers, designers, and architects--build effective prototypes every time: prototypes that convey enough information about the product at the appropriate time and thus set expectations appropriately.
This practical, informative book will help anyone--whether or not one has artistic talent, access to special tools, or programming ability--to use good prototyping style, methods, and tools to build prototypes and manage for effective prototyping.
Features
* A prototyping process with guidelines, templates, and worksheets;
* Overviews and step-by-step guides for 9 common prototyping techniques;
* An introduction with step-by-step guidelines to a variety of prototyping tools that do not require advanced artistic skills;
* Templates and other resources used in the book available on the Web for reuse;
* Clearly-explained concepts and guidelines;
* Full-color illustrations, and examples from a wide variety of prototyping processes, methods, and tools.
Jonathan Arnowitz is a principal user experience designer at SAP Labs and is the co-editor-in-chief of Interactions Magazine. Most recently Jonathan was a senior user experience designer at Peoplesoft. He is a member of the SIGCHI executive committee, and was a founder of DUX, the first ever joint conference of ACM SIGCHI, ACM SIGGRAPH, AIGA Experience Design Group, and STC.
Michael Arent is the manager of user experience design at SAP Labs, and has previously held positions at Peoplesoft, Inc, Adobe Systems, Inc, Sun Microsystems, and Apple Computer, Inc. He holds several U.S. patents.
Nevin Berger is design director at Ziff Davis Media. Previously he was a senior interaction designer at Oracle Corporation and Peoplesoft, Inc., and has held creative director positions at ZDNet, World Savings, and OFOTO, Inc.
* A prototyping process with guidelines, templates, and worksheets;
* Overviews and step-by-step guides for 9 common prototyping techniques;
* An introduction with step-by-step guidelines to a variety of prototyping tools that do not require advanced artistic skills;
* Templates and other resources used in the book available on the Web for reuse;
* Clearly-explained concepts and guidelines;
* Full-color illustrations, and examples from a wide variety of prototyping processes, methods, and tools.
* www.mkp.com/prototyping
127 citations
References
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TL;DR: Learning from Strangers as discussed by the authors is the definitive work on qualitative research interviewing, drawing on Weiss's thirty years' experience interviewing and teaching others, and provides examples and running commentary on how each interaction either inhibits or promotes trust and alliance. Used as a reference, handbook or text, this book is appropriate for novices and professionals.
Abstract: Drawing on Weiss's thirty years' experience interviewing and teaching others, Learning from Strangers is the definitive work on qualitative research interviewing. The author of many successful books, Dr. Weiss provides examples and running commentary on how each interaction either inhibits or promotes trust and alliance. Used as a reference, handbook, or text, this book is appropriate for novices and professionals.
3,661 citations
01 Jan 1984
TL;DR: In this paper, a multidimensional approach to the structure of perceived physical body parts is proposed, based on fashion models' looks: a multi-dimensional approach to model appearance.
Abstract: (1997) Thinking about fashion models' looks: a multidimensional approach to the structure of perceived physical
2,581 citations
Book•
01 Jan 1994
TL;DR: The Cornerstones of a Quality Survey: Deciding What Information You Need, Choosing a Survey Method, When and How to Select a Sample, Setting Your Survey in Motion and Getting It Done.
Abstract: Practical Surveys. Cornerstones of a Quality Survey. Deciding What Information You Need. Choosing a Survey Method. When and How to Select a Sample. Writing Good Questions. Questionnaire Design. Setting Your Survey in Motion and Getting It Done. From Questionnaires to Survey Results. Reporting Survey Results. Advice, Resources, and Maintaining Perspective. References. Index.
2,264 citations
Book•
01 Jan 1984
TL;DR: Cluster Analysis for Researchers does not guarantee a high level of accuracy, but it can be helpful to have a basic understanding of how cluster analysis works.
Abstract: Back in print at a good price. To see the many websites referencing this book, in Google enter "cluster analysis" (in quotes) and Romesburg. Headlines of 5-star reviews on Amazon.com: "A very clear 'how to' book on cluster analysis" (C. Fielitz, Bristol, TN); "An excellent introduction to cluster analysis" (T. W. Powell, Shreveport, LA). A recent (2004) review in Journal of Classification (21:279-283) says: "We should be grateful to the author for his insistence in bringing forth important issues, which have not got yet that level of attention they deserve. I wish this journal could devote more efforts in promoting the scientific inquiry and discussions of methodology of clustering in scientific research [as Cluster Analysis for Researchers does]." To see or search inside the book, go to www.google.com, type in the book's title, and click on it when it comes up (or copy and paste in your browser's window the following URL: http://print.google.com/print?isbn=1411606175 ).
2,206 citations
TL;DR: Although their search technique was often suboptimal, internet users successfully found health information to answer questions in an average of 5 minutes 42 seconds (median 4 minutes 18 seconds) per question.
Abstract: Objectives: To describe techniques for retrieval and appraisal used by consumers when they search for health information on the internet. Design: Qualitative study using focus groups, naturalistic observation of consumers searching the world wide web in a usability laboratory, and in-depth interviews. Participants: A total of 21 users of the internet participated in three focus group sessions. 17 participants were given a series of health questions and observed in a usability laboratory setting while retrieving health information from the web; this was followed by in-depth interviews. Setting: Heidelberg, Germany. Results: Although their search technique was often suboptimal, internet users successfully found health information to answer questions in an average of 5 minutes 42 seconds (median 4 minutes 18 seconds) per question. Participants in focus groups said that when assessing the credibility of a website they primarily looked for the source, a professional design, a scientific or official touch, language, and ease of use. However, in the observational study, no participants checked any “about us” sections of websites, disclaimers, or disclosure statements. In the post-search interviews, it emerged that very few participants had noticed and remembered which websites they had retrieved information from. Conclusions: Further observational studies are needed to design and evaluate educational and technological innovations for guiding consumers to high quality health information on the web. What is already known on this topic Little is known about how consumers retrieve and assess the quality of health information on the internet Qualitative data are needed to design educational and technological innovations to guide consumers to high quality health information What this study adds Users of the internet explore only the first few links on general search engines when seeking health information Consumers say that when assessing the credibility of a site they primarily look for the source, a professional design, and a variety of other criteria In practice, internet users do not check the “about us” sections of websites, try to find out who authors or owners of the site are, or read disclaimers or disclosure statements Very few internet users later remember from which websites they retrieved information or who stood behind the sites
1,817 citations