Comments on: Usability Test: Want valuable feedback? Recruit real user for testing http://agilenature.com/2008/05/08/usability-test-want-valuable-feedback-recruit-real-user-for-testing/ Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:34:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: David Alfaro http://agilenature.com/2008/05/08/usability-test-want-valuable-feedback-recruit-real-user-for-testing/#comment-299 David Alfaro Fri, 09 May 2008 16:37:20 +0000 http://agilenature.com/2008/05/08/usability-test-want-valuable-feedback-recruit-real-user-for-testing/#comment-299 Yeap Lara, it's a very good point, something is better than nothing. And in those "something" cases I wouldn't proclaim "I am doing serious Usability tests", I would rather say humbly "I did something for guessing what real users would think, if you want a more precise and relevant idea before shipping, we need to invest in doing serious usability testing". I suggest in the cases you mention, (if possible) to tell the client the cost/benefit differences between "real" and "some" usability testing. If the client choose "some", at least everybody took a intentional decision, fully aware of consequences. If you don't push toward quality, nobody will. It's cheaper fixing UX mistakes earlier in a product life-cycle than later once it has shipped and in contact with real users. Just take an intentional decision knowing that. Yeap Lara, it’s a very good point, something is better than nothing. And in those “something” cases I wouldn’t proclaim “I am doing serious Usability tests”, I would rather say humbly “I did something for guessing what real users would think, if you want a more precise and relevant idea before shipping, we need to invest in doing serious usability testing”. I suggest in the cases you mention, (if possible) to tell the client the cost/benefit differences between “real” and “some” usability testing. If the client choose “some”, at least everybody took a intentional decision, fully aware of consequences. If you don’t push toward quality, nobody will. It’s cheaper fixing UX mistakes earlier in a product life-cycle than later once it has shipped and in contact with real users. Just take an intentional decision knowing that.

]]> By: Lara http://agilenature.com/2008/05/08/usability-test-want-valuable-feedback-recruit-real-user-for-testing/#comment-289 Lara Fri, 09 May 2008 08:34:16 +0000 http://agilenature.com/2008/05/08/usability-test-want-valuable-feedback-recruit-real-user-for-testing/#comment-289 I agree that we need to always test with 'real' users but this is very difficult to do in the business environment sometimes, due to time and cost pressures... The quality of the test and results may not be as good but surely some usability testing is better than no usability testing? =) I agree that we need to always test with ‘real’ users but this is very difficult to do in the business environment sometimes, due to time and cost pressures… The quality of the test and results may not be as good but surely some usability testing is better than no usability testing?

=)

]]> By: David Alfaro http://agilenature.com/2008/05/08/usability-test-want-valuable-feedback-recruit-real-user-for-testing/#comment-287 David Alfaro Thu, 08 May 2008 15:46:44 +0000 http://agilenature.com/2008/05/08/usability-test-want-valuable-feedback-recruit-real-user-for-testing/#comment-287 It's true Peter, but in those rare cases you have to be aware that the feedback you are getting is not good as it can be, and can that it's biased, asses the risk of doing in that way and remember those caveats when evaluating the results. It's a matter of how realistic a test is, the more realistic the better decisions you can take. Thanks for commenting Peter. It’s true Peter, but in those rare cases you have to be aware that the feedback you are getting is not good as it can be, and can that it’s biased, asses the risk of doing in that way and remember those caveats when evaluating the results. It’s a matter of how realistic a test is, the more realistic the better decisions you can take. Thanks for commenting Peter.

]]> By: Peter http://agilenature.com/2008/05/08/usability-test-want-valuable-feedback-recruit-real-user-for-testing/#comment-284 Peter Thu, 08 May 2008 09:22:19 +0000 http://agilenature.com/2008/05/08/usability-test-want-valuable-feedback-recruit-real-user-for-testing/#comment-284 Totally agree although sometimes getting at least someone to test your site with is better than having no-one. Totally agree although sometimes getting at least someone to test your site with is better than having no-one.

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