Comments on: Why You Should Outsource Usability Testing

By: Why You Should Outsource Usability Testing - Designing Interactive : BEC Development Blog

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 06:32:19 +0000

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By: Josh Walsh

Josh Walsh — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:51:00 +0000

@Larry – Thanks for clarifying one of my points which I didn’t communicate well. The designers and developers certainly need to be made aware of the problems, but shouldn’t be in charge of reviewing those items. They can’t fix a problem they don’t understand, and they are less likely to repeat it down the road.

By: Larry Roth

Larry Roth — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:01:08 +0000

While I agree with you point of different priorities, it has been my experience that involving designers and developers allows them to see first hand the impact of their design choices.

You can still perhaps outsource the mediation, or the facilitator role, and relegate the designers/developers to observer/recorder roles. But having them involved–if properly prepped–can really improve their consideration of usability.

In our shop, we have tried following a more agile development approach and while it took some time, we now have developers that are actively seeking feedback and actually don’t mind when something doesn’t work, because then they have the challenge of “fixing it”.

But your point is well taken, perhaps it is best to include someone with less of a vested interest in the project at hand and more of a focus on usability.

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:54:47 +0000

Impartiality of the person executing the test is extremely important, just as you want to be sure the test scenarios are objective, you want to be sure the interaction of the facilitator with the test subject is also.

That’s why at Progressive we have our own facilitator. When we usability test the developer is in the room, but our facilitator approves the test scenario and questions beforehand, and makes sure the test is carried out with the most scientific and objective means possible.

If your in house resources are limited, you just need someone as a facilitator who hasn’t worked on the project, just like you said a customer support person etc.