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Usability Inspection Methods

Book edited by Jakob Nielsen and Robert L. Mack, published by John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY, 1994.
ISBN 0-471-01877-5 (hardcover).
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Table of Contents

Preface

Jakob Nielsen and Robert L. Mack

About the Editors
List of Contributors

1. Executive Summary

Robert L. Mack and Jakob Nielsen

1.1 Definition of Usability Inspection
1.2 Inspection Objectives
1.3 Inspection Methods
1.4 Inspection Methodology Issues
1.5 Usability Inspection and the Usability Engineering Lifecycle
1.6 Research Directions
1.7 Conclusions

2. Heuristic Evaluation

Jakob Nielsen

2.1 How to Conduct a Heuristic Evaluation
2.2 Case Study: Evaluating a Highly Domain-Dependent System
2.3 Severity Ratings
2.4 Characteristics of Usability Problems Found by Heuristic Evaluation
2.5 Getting Good Evaluators
2.6 Conclusions

3. The Pluralistic Usability Walkthrough: Coordinated Empathies

Randolph G. Bias

3.1 A Little Historical Context
3.2 The Pluralistic Usability Walkthrough
3.3 Limitations
3.4 Benefits
3.5 Theoretical Post Mortem
3.6 Choosing to Conduct a Pluralistic Usability Walkthrough
3.7 Conclusions

4. Inspections and Design Reviews: Framework, History, and Reflection

Dennis Wixon, Sandra Jones, Linda Tse, and George Casaday

4.1 Framework
4.2 Framework for Inspections
4.3 History of Inspections and Design Reviews
4.4 Reflections

5. The Cognitive Walkthrough Method: A Practitioner's Guide

Cathleen Wharton, John Rieman, Clayton Lewis, and Peter Polson

5.1 Overview
5.2 Detailed Description of the Walkthrough Procedure
5.3 Detailed Example
5.4 Staying on Track and General Fixes
5.5 Evolution of the Walkthrough Method
5.6 Value of the Walkthrough in Design

6. Formal Usability Inspections

Michael J. Kahn and Amanda Prail

6.1 A Description of the Method
6.2 A Design History of Formal Usability Inspections
6.3 Appendix: Glossary

7. Faster, Cheaper!! Are Usability Inspection Methods as Effective as Empirical Testing?

Heather W. Desurvire

7.1 Introduction
7.2 Issues and Mechanics of Comparing Usability Inspection Methods
7.3 Comparing Empirical Data with Usability Inspection Methods
7.4 Enhancing the Performance of Interface Evaluators Using Non-Empirical Usability Methods
7.5 Call for Action

8. A Comparison of User Interface Evaluation Methods

Clare-Marie Karat

8.1 Introduction
8.2 Comparison of Usability Testing and Inspection Methods
8.3 Trade-Offs Regarding Inspection Methods
8.4 Conclusion

9. Evaluating High Level Design: Synergistic Use of Inspection and Usability Methods for Evaluating Early Software Designs

Janice S. Bradford

9.1 Importance and Role of Early Design Evaluations
9.2 Building the Context for Evaluation
9.3 Synergistic Use of Multiple Methods
9.4 The Power of Scenarios
9.5 Conclusion

10. Adding Value to Usability Testing

Patricia Brooks

10.1 Introduction
10.2 When Inspection Methods Provide Value
10.3 Where and Why Inspection Methods Fall Short
10.4 Evolution of User Testing
10.5 Summary

11. Usability Problem Reports: Helping Evaluators Communicate Effectively with Developers

Robin Jeffries

11.1 The Data Set
11.2 Looking for False Alarms
11.3 Examples of Problem Reports
11.4 Which are the False Alarms?
11.5 Better Problem Reports
11.6 Recommendations
11.7 A Research Agenda

12. Observing, Predicting, and Analyzing Usability Problems

Robert Mack and Frank Montaniz

12.1 Introduction
12.2 Background
12.3 Observing and Analyzing Usability Problems
12.4 Inspection-Based Usability Problems
12.5 Analyzing Design Implications of Usability Problems
12.6 General Discussion and Conclusions

13. The Role of Psychological Theory in Usability Inspection Methods

Cathleen Wharton and Clayton Lewis

13.1 What Psychological Theory has to Offer
13.2 How Might System Designers Become Aware of and Apply This Knowledge in Their Work?

14. Interface Design Guidance Systems

Louis A. Blatt and James F. Knutson

14.1 Secondary Research
14.2 Requirements Analysis Research
14.3 Rapid Prototyping
14.4 Focus Group Research

Bibliography

Author Index

Index


Last updated February 7, 1995.