October 22, 2010, 4:46 pm
A Usability Test Facilitator is Like What?
By Kirsten Robinson
As I prepare for a week chock-full of usability testing, I’m remembering some of my favorite analogies for the role of a usability study facilitator.
Carolyn Snyder, in her excellent book, Paper Prototyping, describes three roles that must be fulfilled simultaneously:
Flight attendant: keep the test participant safe and comfortable. (Although, with airline seats getting smaller and job satisfaction for flight attendants decreasing, I’d have to say this may set too low a standard.)
Sportscaster: ensure the observers understand what’s going on.
Scientist: gather data accurately while minimizing bias.
But my favorite analogy comes from Joe Dumas, who taught me much of what I know about testing. Joe said a usability test facilitator is like a duck – you must appear calm and placid, but underneath the surface you’re paddling like crazy.
Comments
Did you really read one of the books?! The last quote is from Carolyn Snyder, too.. Read Moderating Usability Tests -> Dumas & Loring 2008: S. 7…
Or ask Joe himself!
Posted by B. on November 23, 2012 at 8:16 pm
In “Paper Prototyping” by Carolyn you can read it exactly next to the facilitator roles you explained… (on page 177)
Posted by B. on November 23, 2012 at 8:28 pm