Several have mentioned the use of "Random users for testing" and I'd like to just address that a bit.
Regardless of the usability statistics, I've found that a lot of companies have "favorites" for testing usability. As in people whom they've used before who have proven to give insightful information on whatever new product it is that they're testing usability on. The coupling of favorites and "fresh blood" seems to be more the common trend that I've seen rather than purely "users at random/random users". The accuracy of any of these also is pending on the background of these testers, the target audience, and the company's ability to forsee what is possibly the unexpected crowd that obtains interest in the product. The 6-9 person statistic could be far off if given to the wrong demographic for testing. Seems like a no-brainer yet some companies still test to a "pool" that isn't their target. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=46278 ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [email protected] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
