Re: Usability Test Metrics

Hi Lynne,

The approach I would take with regard to usability testing in the very
early stages of development would be formative rather than summative.
That is, that I'd be interested in improving the product (through
primarily qualitative observations of user interactions with it), rather
than trying to measure it (though the collection of performance
metrics), though of course, even formative testing may have some focus
on the collection of quantitative data.  Summative evaluation--and the
collection of quantitative data--would surely only be useful during the
later stages of development, or when the product development was
complete?

In any case, I'm not at all sure that collecting quantitative data is
more expensive than collecting qualitative data--but then again, I'm not
sure that that's the distinction you're trying to draw below.

One final comment, and this is simply an issue of semantics, the
subjective measures you mention sound to me like "metrics".

Good luck with the testing and I hope you've had some useful responses.

Cheers,
Dey

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