#15007
Techniques for Managing a Usability Test 
For readers who have performed a usability test or taken a course on usability methods, provides project management techniques to ensure that a usability test meets its information-gathering goals.
Kantner, Laurie. Tec-Ed, Inc. (1994). Articles>Usability>Methods
#28935
Testing Incentives: The Best Way to Pay
The topic of test subject compensation generates a lot of conversation...how do you motivate test participants?
Anderson, Clifford. Boxes and Arrows (2007). Articles>Usability>Testing>Methods
#29070
Thinking in Pixels: An Editing System for Electronic Texts 
On-line publication alters the relationship between editor and writer, creating a potentially more collaborative and fluid text. This article explores implications of increased publication options and examines conceptual distinctions among Fixed-Format, Electronic, and Meta-media Editors. We propose a keyboard editing/commenting technique that will work across platforms and software programs and in every mode of electronic communication including simple e-mail. This ASCII based system uses only four symbols in various combinations to convey all of the print editor's marks and also allows the editor or reader to insert comments in the immediate context. The result is increased efficiency and flexibility for writer and editor or teacher and student.
Kuhlenschmidt, Sally, Charmaine Mosby, Sally Kuhlenschmidt and Charmaine Mosby. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2001). Articles>Publishing>Online>Methods
#26635
Time Budgets for Usability Sessions
Up to 40% of precious testing time is wasted while users engage in nonessential activities. Far better to focus on watching users perform tasks with the target interface design.
Nielsen, Jakob. Alertbox (2005). Articles>Usability>Methods
#30179
Tools and Models for Managing Project
Project management is as much art as science. But even artists follow recognized approaches to creating their work, and they rely on practical tools to do so. Three elements of project management--regardless ofproject size or scope--will determine success: creative estimating; project planning; and effective tracking. These three elements don't need to be complex, and they don't need to be time consuming. Building a standard approach and simple, reusable tools can streamline the project management process with minimal overhead while assuring the necessary control.
Bierbower, James G. and Kate Hayden. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>Project Management>Methods
#31088
When everyone offers quality, quality no longer stands out. Businesses must look elsewhere for differentiation. The next arena for competition has become innovation. But there is little consensus on what innovation is and how to achieve it.
Dubberly, Hugh. uiGarden (2008). Articles>Management>Methods
#24570
Toward Integrating Our Research Scope: A Sociocultural Field Methodology
Technical communicators have recently become interested in user-centered design (UCD) for designing and evaluating technical genres. Yet, a critical examination of the field methods of UCD suggests that they suffer from unintegrated scope: an undesirably limiting focus on a particular level of scope (either the macroscopic level of human activity or the mesoscopic level of goal-directed action) in their theoretical underpinnings and data collection and analysis. This focus is often paired with the assumption that this particular level of scope causally affects what happens at the other levels. Both the focus and the assumption are at odds with sociocultural theories of human activity. This article lays out the problem of unintegrated scope and examines it through critical analyses of two field methods used in UCD research. It concludes by proposing an integrated-scope research methodology for UCD research, with roots in both sociocultural theory and the central issues of technical communication.
Spinuzzi, Clay. Journal of Business and Technical Communication (2001). Articles>Usability>Methods>User Centered Design
#28895
Trials and Tribulations of Using an Eye-Tracking System
This paper's focus is on the challenges associated with collecting eye-tracking data. Despite operator training conducted by the manufacturer, one year of experience with eye-tracking and extensive calibration, the data collection success rate in the current investigation was very low; only six out of sixteen participants (37.5%) were successfully eye-tracked. We discuss possible explanations for this low success rate, and why we do not currently believe that eye-tracking is ready to be employed in usability laboratories.
Schnipke, Susan K. and Marc W. Todd. Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (2000). Articles>Usability>Methods>Eye Tracking
#23860
We are all somewhat familiar with the range of methods that can be used to usability test our products or even early designs. But there may be more methods than you’ve thought about. How many of the following methods are you familiar with?
Preston, Alice. Usability Interface (2004). Articles>Usability>Methods
#26544
Uncovering Users In Your Own Organization
Buying new clothes and looking at current fashions is usually much more interesting and exciting than digging through one's closet or laundry hamper. However, there is a lot one can learn by stopping and taking a minute to examine one's own clothes.
Rampoldi-Hnilo, Lynn. Boxes and Arrows (2005). Articles>User Centered Design>Methods
#25605
Uncovering Users In Your Own Organization
Buying new clothes and looking at current fashions is usually much more interesting and exciting than digging through one’s closet or laundry hamper. However, there is a lot one can learn by stopping and taking a minute to examine one's own clothes.
Rampoldi-Hnilo, Lynn. Boxes and Arrows (2005). Articles>User Centered Design>Methods
#23039
Understanding Organizational Stakeholders for Design Success
User-centered design professionals pay special emphasis to one type of stakeholder—the users of the system—arguing that user experience needs to be carefully crafted to satisfy user needs. While understanding user needs and goals is certainly necessary, it is often not sufficient for producing a successful design.
Boutelle, Jonathan. Boxes and Arrows (2004). Articles>User Centered Design>Methods
#28796
Understanding Principles of Usability, Part 2
This is part two of Karen Bachmann's presentation on Usability. In this part of her presentation, Karen gets more in depth with principles and methods for usability.
Bachmann, Karen L. Tech Writer Voices (2006). Presentations>Usability>Methods>Podcasts
#24282
Understanding Users' Work: Doing Task Analysis Before Design
Are you interested in a gaining a better understanding of tasks and task analysis? Are you looking for practical hints on doing workflow analysis, job analysis, or procedural analysis? Are you used to writing about tasks based on product features, when you know the product would be better if the team had done task analysis first? If so, come participate in this demonstration/workshop in which we'll explore how to understand users' work by doing task analysis before designing the product.
Redish, Janice C. 'Ginny'. STC Proceedings (1998). Articles>User Centered Design>Methods
#31595
Unraveling the Mysteries of Sampling
The number of surveys to send out depends on how many employees you have and what rate of response you are likely to achieve. If you have a relatively small number of employees, you might need to send out surveys to everyone. If you have over several thousand employees, you would need only 500-600 completed surveys to have fairly reliable results for your population as a whole, assuming the respondents accurately reflect the demographics of the entire group. So, if you expect to have a 100% response rate, you would mail out surveys to a random sample of 600. More realistically, if you typically have a response rate of 50%, you'd need to survey 1,200 people (600 divided by 0.5).
Sinickas, Angela D. Sinickas Communications (2001). Articles>Research>Methods>Surveys
#28617
Usability Leistungsspektrum Die ausgefeiltesten digitalen Strategien scheitern oft am Einfachsten: der Usability. Doch in einer Zeit, in der Ihr Wettbewerber nur einen Mausklick weit entfernt ist, stellt Usability eine der größten Herausforderungen im Bereich der digitalen Kommunikation dar.
Schröter, Holger. Digital District GmbH (2005). (German) Articles>Usability>Testing>Methods
#28270
Usability and Findability: Getting the Synergy Right
Read about techniques for successful search engine optimization (SEO) as well as examples of good and bad keywording methods.
Spencer, Stephan. Intercom (2006). Articles>Usability>Methods
#19939
There are a variety of approaches to usability evaluation that you may choose to take. The methodologies can be divided into two broad categories: those that gather data from actual users and those that can be applied without actual users present. Of course the approach you choose to take must factor in variables such as the cost of evaluation, the appropriateness of the technique to your project, time constraints of the project, and the cost associated with the implementation and training of new users. Usability evaluations can be conducted at many stages during and after the design and development process. In choosing a usability evaluation method, cost is invariably a consideration. But it is important to keep in mind that the value of a usability evaluation needs to be calculated not only in time and materials involved, but also in terms of the impact on the end-users, especially considering the cost of losing return visitors to your website due to unusable design.
#28258
How can a small company's website benefit from usability activities despite a minuscule budget? By integrating four simple and effective usability practices into the design process.
Nielsen, Jakob. Alertbox (2003). Articles>Usability>Methods
#28910
These guidelines include most factors to consider during a usability evaluation of a web site. Not all factors apply to every site.
#14997
Usability in Practice: Field Studies
Field methods are a collection of tools and techniques for conducting studies of users, their tasks, and their work environments in the actual context of those environments. The promise of such methods is that they help teams design products that are both useful and usable by providing data about what people really do. This paper reviews ways to adapt these methods to practical constraints, with brief case study summaries.
Rosenbaum, Stephanie L. Tec-Ed, Inc. (1997). Articles>Usability>Methods
#11797
Usability Interface: Convincing the Skeptics
People familiar with product development understand the dedication needed for any usability effort to be successful. However, people unfamiliar with usability think that it’s cosmetic and can be combined with other phases of development when time is available. How do you convince the skeptics?
Dick, David J. STC Usability SIG (1999). Articles>Usability>Methods
#21125
First, when you are conducting a usability test, it is important to understand exactly what data you should be collecting. You should not run a test without first deciding on what data is required to address your business challenges. Plan ahead! Second, in a usability test, you don't just watch users. You must collect data that reflects how customers actually use your products and services. This is easier said than done.
Rhodes, John S. WebWord (2001). Articles>Usability>Methods>Testing
#18720
Usability Myths Need Reality Checks
Not so very long ago, it was agreed that five to eight users was enough for a good usability test. Somehow, this idea achieved mythic status. We believed it. We preached it to everyone who would listen. It survived in areas where it had been disproved, and was introduced into new situations where it didn't even apply. What gives some ideas such staying power? What did the five-user myth accomplish? It reconciled test plans with testing budgets! If five to eight users are enough, then it's safe to act on the results of a test series with only five to eight users.
Schroeder, Will. User Interface Engineering (2002). Articles>Usability>Methods>Testing
#22462
Today's corporate firms focus increasingly on their online presence. However, not many understand the long-term implications of not testing their site's usability before it goes online, and in a recessionary era like the one just past, frequently usability is all too easily forgotten. Often no funds are allocated to conduct usability testing, even though it's a key component of any online or interactive project. In an ideal world, a Website should be evaluated for usability from the point of a new concept's inception, to the final execution and upload.
Kheterpal, Suneet. SitePoint (2002). Articles>Usability>Methods
