Universal Methods of Design

RESEARCH METHOD • SYNTHESIS / ANALYSIS TECHNIQUE • RESEARCH DELIVERABLE

34 Evaluative Research

Evaluative research involves the testing of prototypes, products, or interfaces by real potential users of a system in design development.

Evaluative or evaluation research attempts to gauge human expectations against the designed artifact in question, determining whether something is useful, usable, and desirable. This is the most established form of research in design, stemming from a long history of product and interface testing in human factors, commonly known as “user testing.” To avoid connotations that the participants themselves are being tested, ...