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Sunderland Repository records the research produced by the University of Sunderland including practice-based research and theses.

Putting Value into E-valu-ation

Cockton, Gilbert (2007) Putting Value into E-valu-ation. In: Maturing Usability: Quality in Software, Interaction and Value. Human-Computer Interaction Series (10). Springer, London, pp. 287-317. ISBN 9781846289408

Item Type: Book Section

Abstract

Usability Evaluation measures remain too close to what were originally dependent variables in factorial experiments. The basis for genuine ‘usability problems’ in such variables is not guaranteed, but there has been little progress on finding replacements since HCI’s shift from the laboratory to field studies. As a result, the worth of much usability evaluation is questionable. Such doubts will persist until we can fully align the purpose of evaluation with the purpose of design, which is to create value in the world through innovative products and services, whether sold in markets, or provided free by either individuals or public and voluntary agencies. This chapter reviews issues with common usability measures and introduces a framework that can plausibly re-align evaluation criteria with design purpose by adapting an approach from consumer psychology. This provides opportunities to deploy evaluation measures and instruments that meet the needs of design, rather than reflect skill sets from psychology and human factors. The current gap between design and usability evaluation narrows, but an exclusive usability focus in evaluation becomes impossible. Instead, the role of usability in delivering or degrading intended worth is placed in a wider worth systems context. The maturity of usability will thus be evidenced by its effective integration with a range of design and evaluation concerns. It can longer assume intrinsic importance, but has to demonstrate it in the context of achieved product value.

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More Information

Depositing User: Gilbert Cockton

Identifiers

Item ID: 12240
ISBN: 9781846289408
URI: http://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/12240
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84628-941-5_13

Users with ORCIDS

ORCID for Gilbert Cockton: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-3689-1768

Catalogue record

Date Deposited: 16 Jul 2020 08:28
Last Modified: 30 Sep 2020 11:00

Contributors

Author: Gilbert Cockton ORCID iD

University Divisions

Faculty of Technology > School of Computer Science

Subjects

Computing > Human-Computer Interaction
Computing > Software Engineering

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