Chapter 16EVALUATION: INSPECTIONS, ANALYTICS, AND MODELS
- 16.1 Introduction
- 16.2 Inspections: Heuristic Evaluation and Walk-Throughs
- 16.3 Analytics and A/B testing
- 16.4 Predictive Models
16.1 Introduction
The evaluation methods described in this book so far have involved interaction with, or direct observation of, users. In this chapter, we introduce methods that are based on understanding users through one of the following:
- Knowledge codified in heuristics
- Data collected remotely
- Models that predict users' performance
None of these methods requires users to be present during the evaluation. Inspection methods often involve a researcher, sometimes known as an expert, role-playing the users for whom the product is designed, analyzing aspects of an interface, and identifying potential usability problems. The most well-known methods are heuristic evaluation and walk-throughs. Analytics involves user interaction logging, and A/B testing is an experimental method. Both analytics and A/B testing are usually carried out remotely. Predictive modeling involves analyzing the various physical and mental operations that are needed to perform ...