TABLE OF CONTENTS It wouldn't be very useful to sit a user down at a table covered with prototype pieces and ask, "So what do you think?" People have a hard time answering abstract questions like that, especially out of context It's important to not just ask users what they think, but to see what they do. It's like the difference between looking at a car on the showroom floor and taking it for a test drive.
To conduct a usability test, you need to have users, realistic tasks, and a test facilitator to run the show in a structured yet informal manner. This chapter explains what the facilitator does during a usability test. If you're already experienced in conducting usability tests, you may want to skip to the next chapter.
In a nutshell, the purpose of the usability test facilitator is to maximize the amount of useful and reliable data from the test sessions while at the same time minimizing the stress on the users. As you might expect, these two goals can conflict with each other, so a good facilitator understands how to make the trade-offs.
Are You Dangerous? I believe that anyone who has good social skills and a genuine interest in usability can learn the basics of facilitation well enough to be effective, although as with any skill, there are nuances that may take years to master. There's a risk that this chapter may give you just enough information and encouragement to be dangerous fools rush in where angels...
