Expert Evaluation
Test of Internet presence by Psyma usability experts
Aims
In contrast to the usability lab, experts, not users, evaluate the website in this case. The strengths and weaknesses of an Internet presence can be identified with comparatively little effort, making it possible to deduce rapidly any necessary improvements. Lead times and recruitment and incentive costs can be avoided.
Results
- Is your Internet presence consistently coherent and clear?
- Does your Internet presence fulfil general usability criteria?
- Are processes structured / areas linked in an ideal manner?
- Are all necessary options accessible? Is all required information available?
- Does the navigation and page structure support essential tasks?
- How well do structure, design and content of the website contribute to the conversion of potential customers to genuine customers?
- How well does the search function enable the finding of specific information?
Report content:
- Heuristic evaluation:
Heuristics are best practice guidelines for web interfaces. Heuristic evaluation reveals “violated” heuristics with the aid of screenshots and precise problem explanation. In addition, it offers a possible solution and a severity assessment (minor, medium, critical) – also in relation to the business goals of the website. The evaluation is limited to individual areas, since an investigation of all areas would be too complicated.
- Task-related analysis of core areas:
This step identifies potential problems with defined core processes, but without taking general usability problems completely into account (see step 1). The expert assumes the role of potential user, having one or more motives for visiting the site. In the process he uncovers possible obstacles for the user and critical areas, and clarifies research issues in accordance with instructions.
Applications
- Preliminary test prior to usability lab to remove “obvious errors”.
- Intermediate stage of optimisation process (e.g. first onsite survey, then evaluation by experts).
- Simple and, above all, rapid feedback method.
- Consideration of experiences from other applications (best practices from the point of view of Psyma).
- Assessment of quality of communication, navigation, function, plus structure and clarity.
- BUT: not suitable for making valid judgements on design and content. Even in the case of an optimum expert team, these should be left to the actual target groups.
Managing Director
Frank Knapp | frank.knapp@psyma.com
Sales Manager
Christoph Haas | christoph.haas@psyma.com
