4.

2: Usability Plan and Protocol Memo Due: 4.25

Description: In this second part of project 4, you are writing a protocol memo
in which you describe the specifics of the usability test you are going to run to your
client. Though, generally, you can and should follow Krugs scripts and advice in
the bookfor each section I expect you to change or add at least one thing.
The goal of each section of this memo is to explain both what you are going to do
and why. As always for assignment 4, assume that you are writing for a client that
doesnt know much about usability.

1. [Introduction]: What is the purpose of this memo and what does it

include? What is the basic test you will run? What objectives are you testing?
What is think aloud protocol? What types of data do you hope to collect?
What are the roles each group member will serve? What types of
encouragement will you provide and avoid? What type of technology will
you use and why? Who will you test and why? (Hint: Each team will be
required to use a screen capture program). If you want to have your user
persona in this section, again, that is fine.

2. [Scripted Intro]: What are you going to say when the test starts? What
are the demographic questions you are going to ask? What questions will
you ask to gather data about the basic layout of the site? This actually needs
to be a written script that you will read.

3. [Homepage Tour Questions]: What are the basic questions you

will ask to get your participant to start talking about the page.

4. [Design Scenarios]: Give me 2 scenarios as well as a description of

the tertiary tasks that each scenario tests. Describe to me why the scenarios
have been designed in the ways they have.

5. [Homemade Method]: Based on the IDEO methods cards (see

readings), add a secondary test, activity, or measurement that your user can
do and explain why you feel it is important.
6. [Waiver Form]: Write up a brief waiver form that your test subjects
will sign. Have it include a statement that says what information you will be
allowed and not allowed to use and that say they allow you to video record
them.

7. [Calendar]: A timeline of events. When are you going to do your test?

What is each person on the team going to be doing during the test? What
are your roles? Whose computer are you going to use? Where are you going
to run the testare you going to reserve a room somewhere? Does someone
have QuickTime with screen recording on their computer (aka a Mac)? Or
do you have access to a friend who has a Mac (if not, you can sign-up to use
my office)? Who are you going to ask to be your test participants? When will
you begin writing the final report? When will the boss have the final report
in his hands?

Notes:
There are 2 student examples online
You will be testing two participants; each test will take around 45 minutes.
Make this document as specific as you can so that running the actually
usability test will be a breeze.
The majority of the information for this document will be found in Rocket
Surgery Made Easy, the rest can be found in the reading on usability plans.
Theres good definitions of things in each of these documents (the usability
plans reading is shorter).