Heuristic evaluation

Draft

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Introduction

According to usability.gov, “A heuristic evaluation is a usability inspection method for computer software that helps to identify usability problems in the user interface (UI) design. It specifically involves evaluators examining the interface and judging its compliance with recognized usability principles (the "heuristics"). Heuristic evaluations usually are conducted by a small set (one to three) of evaluators. The evaluators independently examine a user interface and judge its compliance with a set of usability principles. The result of this analysis is a list of potential usability issues or problems. The usability principles, also referred to as usability heuristics, are taken from published lists. Ideally, each potential usability problem is assigned to one or more heuristics to help facilitate fixing the problem. As more evaluators are involved, more true problems are found.”

See also the similar: guidelines-based review method.

General heuristics

There exist several popular heuristics. However, these are not directly operational, i.e. they are guidelines for usability experts. Beginners rather should start with web usability guidelines checklists, i.e. do a guidelines-based review.

The Nielsen heuristics

(to do)

See Ten Usability Heuristics

The Gerhardt-Powals Heuristics

(to do)

ISO 9241

(to do)

See Usability Expert Reviews: Beyond Heuristic Evaluation

Tools

(none)

Links

Introductions

• Heuristic Evaluations, at usability.gov, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Summarizes the Nielsen and Gerhardt-Powals heuristics.

• Usability Expert Reviews: Beyond Heuristic Evaluation. Summarizes the Nielsen and ISO 0241-110 heuristics.

• Heuristic evaluation at usabilityhome.com

• How to Conduct a Heuristic Evaluation by Jakob Nielsen, based on Nielsen and Molich, 1990; Nielsen 1994. This text outlines the general principle, but doesn't include the heuristics.

• Ten Usability Heuristics by Jakob Nielsen (2005).

• Discount Usability: Time to Push Back the Pendulum?, — David Travis, May 2 2003, userfocus.co.uk

Discussion

• Heuristic Evaluation, Preview of Usability Body of Knowledge.

Bibliography

• Molich, R. and Nielsen, J., Improving a human- computer dialogue, Communications of the ACM, 33(3), 338-348, (1990).

• Nielsen, J., Enhancing the explanatory power of usability heuristics, CHI'94 Conference Proceedings, (1994).

• Gerhardt-Powals, J. Cognitive engineering principles for enhancing human - computer performance, International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 8(2), 189-211, (1996).