Handbook of Usability Testing: How to Plan, Design, and Conduct Effective Tests (Wiley Technical Communications Library) (Paperback)

by Jeffrey Rubin (Author) "In this opening chapter I would like to explore this question, discuss why the situation is exacerbated today, and examine the overall antidote to this..." (more)
Key Phrases: debriefing topics guide, quick setup guide, acquiring participants, Disagree Agree Strongly Agree, Strongly Disagree Disagree Neither Agree, Finish Task (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A supremely usable nuts-and-bolts guide for beginners… A daily tool of the trade for specialists… Handbook of Usability Testing gives you practical, step-by-step guidelines in plain English. Written by Jeffrey Rubin, it arms beginners with the full complement of proven testing tools and techniques. From software, GUIs, and technical documentation, to medical instruments, VCRs, and exercise bikes, no matter what your product, you’ll learn to design and administer extremely reliable tests to ensure that people find it easy and desirable to use.

• Requires no engineering or human factors training
• A rigorous, step-by-step approach—with an eye to common gaffes and pitfalls—saves you months of trial and error
• Liberally peppered with real-life examples and case histories taken from a wide range of industries
• Packed with extremely usable templates, models, tables, test plans, and other indispensable tools of the trade

From the Publisher
Presents a step-by-step approach to usability testing in today's fast-paced industrial production environment, where reducing time to market has become a prerequisite for survival. Contains chapter coverage for each of the six stages including numerous examples and case studies. Provides information on the politics and human elements of testing within an organization. Features plenty of inside tips and tricks to help ease the testing process.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 330 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (April 29, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471594032
• ISBN-13: 978-0471594031
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #392,803 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you will be performing a usability test, read the book., August 27, 1999

By A Customer

Mr. Rubin provides some of the principles of User Centered Design and explains how to perform a usability test session to ferret out some of the usability problems. A wonderful guide for someone who will be performing usability tests and would like to be able to refer to some guidelines, report formats, and technique suggestions.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rock-solid introduction to usability testing., June 7, 2000

By	J. Grey (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The author provides a supermarket of information from which you can choose your approach and method for performing usability testing. I had a little usability-testing experience when I bought this book. It quickly gave me some ways to streamline my process, plus some ways to shore up my process where it was weak. The most important thing this book gave me, however, was an understanding of when to use "quick and dirty" usability testing and when to perform a more thorough study.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book for budding usability folks, October 25, 2002

By A Customer

This book is a very handy reference guide for anyone who is just getting into the field of usability, and will need to conduct their own studies. It has many nifty tips for test planning and lots of information those just starting up in the field.