Topics in Usability
Testing Techniques

Conducting Tests and Interviews Thinking Out Loud

Conducting Tests and Interviews

Usability Toolkit: Conducting Usability Tests - tools and forms for usability testing

Usability Toolkit: Planning and Conducting a Site Visit - forms and planning materials for site visits

Tips for Talking with Users During Site Visits by Dr. Janice (Ginny) Redish

How Much Interaction is Too Much? By Clifford Anderson Discussion of facilitation techniques and interacting with participants (Usability Interface, April 2004)

How (much) to Intervene in a Usability Testing Session - Howard Tamler (reprinted from UPA's Common Ground Vol. 8, No. 3, July 1998, 11-15) looks at the differences between probing questions, active listening, guiding the user and the user as designer.

Pros and Cons of Co-participation in Usability Studies, by Chauncey Wilson, author, and Judy Blostein, editor (Usability Interface, April 1998)

McCracken, G., The Long Interview. Qualitative Reseach Methods Series, ed. M.L. Miller. Vol. 13. 1988, Newbury Park, California SAGE. 88.

Thinking Out Loud

Methods for Successful "Thinking Out Loud" Procedures Additions by Usability Analysis & Design, Xerox Corporation

Ericsson, K. and Simon, H. 1980  "Verbal Reports as Data," Psychological Review,87, 3, 215-251

Ericsson, K. A. and Simon, H. A. Protocol Analysis Verbal Reports as Data (Revised Edition). The MIT Press Cambridge, MA, 1993.