Moderating Usability Tests

26 CHAPTER 3 Golden rules 1 through 5

3.2.4 Balance of purpose and risk

As usability professionals, we must ensure that the purpose of our

studies justifi es the risks to participants. Fortunately, very few usabil-

ity testing situations involve physical risk. Even so, we know that

there is some level of emotional stress involved. Although we tell

participants that we are not testing them—we are testing the product—

many participants still blame themselves when they struggle or fail.

And although we should never pressure or coerce participants, we

sometimes ask them to continue with a task even when they say

they’re stuck.

We believe that the justifi ...