Introduction to Usability Test Facilitation - Paper Prototyping by Snyder

Note that while this chapter is written about paper protoypes, most of the chapter applies directly to medium fidelity prototypes, and even usability tests of fully functioning products.

  1. What are nonspecific utterances and why are they important?

  2. Give 2 examples of users with an agenda. How can the experimenter keep them focused?

  3. In many cases, usability tests are done after the features set has been locked and it's too late to make any fundamental changes. Some people criticize usability tests as to be useful only for the next version. Do you agree on their opinion? Support or refute it.

  4. What is the primary purpose of an Informed Consent Form? What are the key parts of that form? When shall it be used?

  5. Carolyn Snyder highlights 3 main roles for the facilitator. Name and describe each role.

  6. What are the advantages and possible drawbacks of co-discovery? Do you think it is best to use strangers or friends as co-discoverers?

  7. During user testing, what should the facilitator do if a participant get stuck? What are the possible drawbacks of offering help too rapidly? In what kind of circumstances, can a moderator suggest an idea to a user without providing any bias?

  8. What are the pros and cons of writing a script for usability studies?