This project started with a graduate course on user interface evaluation techniques. As material was gathered for this course and the existing literature was read, it became clear that much was left to be learned about the effectiveness of interface evaluation techniques. Existing techniques have strengths, but they also have weaknesses. The purpose of this project is to gain a better understanding of where, when, and how the various techniques should be applied.

At present, this project has resulted in several studies comparing different evaluation techniques. In addition, a new technique called Heuristic Walkthroughs has been developed by combining the advantages of several existing techniques including Heuristic Evaluations and Cognitive Walkthroughs.

Papers about our studies

• Cognitive Walkthroughs: The effect of task description detail on evaluator performance
  
• The Effect of Task Description Detail on Evaluator Performance with Cognitive Walkthroughs
  
• A Pair of Techniques for Effective Interface Evaluation: Cognitive Walkthroughs and Think-Aloud Evaluations
  
• Heuristic Walkthroughs: Finding the problems without the noise (this is the HW article to read)
  
• Heuristic Walkthroughs: Combining the advantages of existing evaluation techniques
  

For more information