190 likes | 621 Views
Evaluation Paradigms & Techniques. IS 588 Spring 2008 Dr. D. Bilal. Overview. Evaluation is performed to determine how well a certain product design meets user needs. Need to decide what to evaluate? Guided by goals, theory, model, etc. What to evaluate determines how to do the evaluation.
E N D
Evaluation Paradigms & Techniques IS 588 Spring 2008 Dr. D. Bilal
Overview • Evaluation is performed to determine how well a certain product design meets user needs. • Need to decide what to evaluate? • Guided by goals, theory, model, etc. • What to evaluate determines how to do the evaluation
Evaluation Paradigms • Quick & Dirty • Usability testing • Field studies • Predictive evaluation
Quick & Dirty • Informal • Designers or evaluators meet informally with users • Gather information about product design • Gather suggestions for design improvements • Inexpensive • Not time consuming
Usability Testing • Formal assessment • Measures user performance on predefined tasks • Tasks structured based on purpose of evaluation • Controlled by evaluator • Performance observed and/or captured • EXAMPLES? • based on questions guiding usability testing (i.e., what the evaluator wants to find)
Usability Testing • Typically quantitative • Interviews and questionnaires can result in qualitative assessments • User comments, quotes of likes/dislikes, etc. • A mix method is ideal • WHY?
Usability Testing • Not performed in a naturalistic setting • Activities can be captured/recorded using software (e.g., Morae, HyperCam, Camtasia), or videotape • Evaluator may take observational notes while activities being captured
Field Studies • Naturalistic setting • User interacts with system as part of a daily routine • No tasks given by evaluator • Evaluator observes and records activities, OR uses software to capture activities, OR… • Can be qualitative and quantitative • HOW?
Predictive Evaluation • Experts place themselves in the users’ shoes to predict usability problems • Guided by heuristics • Quick, inexpensive • Limitations • WHAT ARE THEY?
Evaluation Techniques • Observe user • Gather user opinion • Gather expert opinion • Test user performance • Model user performance • Mix method (2 or more techniques)
DECIDE Framework • Determine goals • Explore/set questions to be answered • Choose suitable paradigms and techniques • Identify issues (e.g., how to recruit participants)
DECIDE Framework • Decide on tackling ethical concerns (e.g., use of human subjects, privacy) • Evaluate, interpret, present data