Is A Lab Essential For User Testing?
http://infocentre.frontend.com/infocentre/articles/isalabessentialforusertesting.html

Farrell, Tom
Frontend Infocentre
2001

Abstract:

Once an organisation decides to go ahead with a user testing programme, the questions really begin. Is it really necessary to undertake testing in a 'usability lab'? And what exactly should a fully functioning lab consist of anyway? As one might imagine, opinion is divided on these issues. We take a quick look at what a typical lab might consist of and the pros and cons of lab-based testing.