Not Just a Hammer: When and How to Employ Multiple Methods in Usability Programs

Abstract

Most usability practitioners today are skilled at conducting usability testing, especially laboratory testing. And most of us understand the benefits of conducting iterative usability studies as part of iterative product design and development. However, exploratory usability testing is so frequently performed that many organizations fail to take advantage of other usability methods. Usability engineering is in peril of being regarded as a usability testing “commodity,” rather than a consulting specialty. Instead, we should assess the trade-offs among different methods, so that our organizations can make informed decisions about where, when, and how to spend usability resources. This paper explores how to combine different usability methods, depending on: