Introduction to Usablity Test Facilitation - Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Define and Refine User Interfaces - page 131

Chapter 8: Introduction to Usablity Test Facilitation
Overview
It wouldn't be very useful to sit a user down at a table covered with prototype pieces and ask, "So what
do you think?" People have a hard time answering abstract questions like that, especially out of context
It's important to not just ask users what they think, but to see what they do. It's like the difference
between looking at a car on the showroom floor and taking it for a test drive.
To conduct a usability test, you need to have users, realistic tasks, and a test facilitator to run the show
in a structured yet informal manner. This chapter explains what the facilitator does during a usability
test. If you're already experienced in conducting usability tests, you may want to skip to the next
chapter .
In a nutshell, the purpose of the usability test facilitator is to maximize the amount of useful and reliable
data from the test sessions while at the same time minimizing the stress on the users. As you might
expect, these two goals can conflict with each other, so a good facilitator understands how to make the
trade-offs.
Are You Dangerous?
I believe that anyone who has good social skills and a genuine interest in usability can learn
the basics of facilitation well enough to be effective, although as with any skill, there are
nuances that may take years to master. There's a risk that this chapter may give you just
enough information and encouragement to be dangerous—fools rush in where angels fear to
tread. One chapter can't do justice to all the special situations that can arise or explore the
interesting debates among usability professionals about how to handle them. Before
facilitating your first test, I recommend that you watch a few tests run by an experienced
facilitator, do additional reading (see the References section), or take a training class. Join
an organization like the Usability Professionals Association ( www.upassoc.org ) or SIGCHI
( www.acm.org/sigchi ), which may have chapters in your area. Practice your skills whenever
possible and ask colleagues to give you feedback.