Developers as Users: Exploring the Experiences of Using a New Theoretical Method for Usability Assessment

Abstract EN

There is a need for appropriate evaluation methods to efficiently identify and counteract usability issues early in the development process.

The aim of this study was to investigate how product developers assessed a new theoretical method for identifying usability problems and use errors.

Two cases where the method had been applied were selected and the users of the method in them were asked to fill in a questionnaire and were then interviewed about their experiences of using the method.

Overall, the participants (students and professionals) found the methods useful and their outcome trustworthy.

At the same time, the methods were assessed as difficult to learn and as cumbersome and tedious to use.

Nevertheless, both students and professionals thought that the methods would be useful in future development work.

Suggestions for further improvement included provision of further instructions, for example, on how to adapt the methods and development of an IT-support tool.