International Journal of Human-Computer Studies (IJHCS), Elsevier
SPECIAL ISSUE
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Topic: Interplay between User Experience Evaluation and Software Development
Deadline for submission: 28th February 2013 (Thursday)
Guest Editors: Effie L-C Law, Silvia Abrahão
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GOAL
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While the gap between HCI and Software Engineering (SE) with regard to
usability has somewhat been narrowed, it may be widened again due to the
new emphasis on user experience (UX). This Special Issue aims to build a
body of applied knowledge on the increasingly relevant topic of
Interplay between User Experience (UX) Evaluation and System
Development. Specifically, the topic will be studied from both the HCI
and SE perspectives, identifying plausible resolutions to the challenge
of optimizing the impact of UX evaluation feedback on software development.
RATIONALES & CHALLENGES
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Usability evaluation methods (UEMs) and metrics are relatively more
mature. In contrast, UX evaluation methods which draw largely on UEMs
are still taking shape. It is conceivable that feeding outcomes of UX
evaluation back to the software development lifecycle to instigate the
required changes can even be more challenging than doing so for
usability evaluation. It leads to several key issues:
UX attributes are (much) more fuzzy and malleable, what kinds of
diagnostic information and improvement suggestion can be drawn from
evaluation data on experiences?
Conducting usability evaluation in the early phases of a development
lifecycle with low fidelity prototypes may facilitate necessary changes
to be made cost-effectively. However, is this principle applicable to UX
evaluation? Is it feasible to capture authentic experiential responses
with a low-fidelity prototype? If yes, how can we draw insights from
these responses?
The persuasiveness of empirical feedback determines its worth. Earlier
research indicates that software development teams need to be convinced
about the urgency and necessity of fixing usability problems. Is UX
evaluation feedback less persuasive than usability feedback? If yes,
will the impact of UX evaluation be weaker than usability evaluation?
The SE community has recognized the importance of usability. Can such
recognition and implications be taken for granted for UX, as UX
evaluation methodologies and measures could be very different (e.g.
artistic performance)?
Analysis approaches developed by researchers are applied to a limited
extent by practitioners. Could such divorce between research and
practice be bitterer in UX analysis approaches, which are essentially
lacking?
This Special Issue aims to address the above as well as other related ones.
TOPICS
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Contributions, preferably with empirical studies, are invited but are
not limited to the following topics::
* Which artefacts of software development are useful as the basis for UX
evaluation and how do such artefacts influence the selection of UX
evaluation methods?
* What are the forms and characteristics of UX evaluation feedback that
are considered or proved useful and necessary for software development
(including the UI design)?
* How can UX evaluation methods be integrated in emerging techniques and
approaches for software development (e.g., agile development,
aspect-oriented software development, model-driven development?
* How do software designers/developers perceptions of UX evaluation
feedback relate to their redesign strategies and approaches (e.g.
prioritisation)?
* How can the effectiveness of UX evaluation feedback in improving
software quality be evaluated (i.e., the issue of downstream utility)?
* How can analysis in UX practical evaluation be supported with
techniques and tools applicable to actual industrial practices?
SUBMISSION PROCEDURE
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http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/622846/authorinstructions
IMPORTANT DATES
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* Deadline for submission: 28th February 2013
* Author notification (1st round): 30th April 2013
* Paper revision submission deadline: 11th June 2013
* Camera-ready version submission ready: 23rd August 2013
Guest Editors
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* Effie Lai-Chong Law, University of Leicester, UK
* Silvia Abrahão, Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain
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