Heuristic Analysis Flashcards
What is heuristic analysis?
Non-user testing (aka discount)
Why would we use heuristic analysis vs user testing?
- Cheaper (time, money, access to users)
- faster
- comprehensive
- easy to repeat
- don’t require ethics approval
How many expert reviewers do you need for HA and what do they require?
- Need at least 3 expert reviewers
- Each reviewer needs a scenario
• Based on task analysis and design
• Just like in your test plan for users
What should you establish before the evaluation?
- Must establish the aims of the
evaluation at the outset
• I.M.P.A.C.T - Select appropriate heuristics
• Use your textbook or online descriptions - Instruct the evaluators about how your
software system is to be used
What do the evaluators need to do during HA
- Evaluators try to use the system
- Evaluators apply heuristics rigorously and
systematically
• Work through scenarios
• Imagine being the users
• Assess the severity of mistakes and users
ability to recover from errors
• Helpful to use a standard reporting form
• Need to work through several scenarios
What does the evaluation team do after testing has been completed?
8. Evaluation team compiles all problems • Make list of all potential problems identified • Even if only one evaluator predicted problem it must be considered
What does I.M.P.A.C.T stand for?
Intention • What are the users’ characteristics?
• What will the users need/want to do with the software?
Measures • What measures should be applied?
• How will those measures be operationalised and applied?
People Who will the experts be?
Activities Which concrete scenarios will be used?
Context • What is the software to be used in conjunction with?
• Is it part of a larger project?
• How much choice do users have to use this software?
• Is there teamwork and assistance?
• What is the physical set-up? Etc.
Technologies How will the system be represented to the evaluators?
How are heuristics different from guidelines? how are they similar?
A heuristic is a process or method, while a guideline is a general rule or principle.
Heuristics may use guidelines to create their methods or influence their processes, but are ultimately about discovery.