http://www.experiencesolutions.co.uk/blog/2009/03/26/the-effect-of-bias-in-diy-usability-testing/ Making Websites Easy To Use Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:19:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 http://www.experiencesolutions.co.uk/blog/2009/03/26/the-effect-of-bias-in-diy-usability-testing/comment-page-1/#comment-75 TC Harding Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:12:39 +0000 http://www.experiencesolutions.co.uk/blog/?p=169#comment-75 I think the argument for DIY testing is appropriate when you look at the individual project, the size, requirements, budget, and the project lifecycle. DIY testing is paramount in getting a project moving, and to build a picture of the user before applying standard methodologies to developing the product. But you're quite right that the project team will naturally become blinded by their own good work to not see critical user issues. So in addition, external user testing is important when the designs or the product are at a point that needs external user validation (final concept designs, later in the prototyping phase, etc.) before moving on to the next phase. I think the argument for DIY testing is appropriate when you look at the individual project, the size, requirements, budget, and the project lifecycle. DIY testing is paramount in getting a project moving, and to build a picture of the user before applying standard methodologies to developing the product. But you're quite right that the project team will naturally become blinded by their own good work to not see critical user issues. So in addition, external user testing is important when the designs or the product are at a point that needs external user validation (final concept designs, later in the prototyping phase, etc.) before moving on to the next phase.

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