 | American Psychological Association | |
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 | Usability Professionals Association | |
 | Human Factors & Ergonomics Society | |
Usability Testing & Measurement BooksThe books described here are relevant to Human Factors Design and are available from Amazon. Please let us know if you would like to suggest additional titles.
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Because of overlapping subject matter, some books may be represented more than once. The books listed here are roughly divided into the following categories:
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Usability Testing Books
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by Alison J. Head
June 1, 1999
A badly designed Web site interface can result in a site that is hard to find and hard to use - but a well-designed interface helps users find and utilize the information they need quickly and easily. Design Wise explains what interface design is and how to evaluate it. Information on the importance of interface to users, how a product gets designed, a design evaluation template, and design analyses of CD-ROM's, Web sites, and on-line providers is included. Users can now make sure that they are accessing the best computer resources that their time, effort, and money can buy.
by Niels Ole Bernsen, Hans Dybkjr, Laila Dybkjr
May 1, 1998
Designing Interactive Speech Systems describes the design and implementation of spoken language dialogue within the context of SLDS (spoken language dialogue systems) development. Using an applications-oriented SLDS developed through the Danish Dialogue project, the authors describe the complete process involved in designing such a system; and in doing so present several innovative practical tools, such as dialogue design guideline s, in-depth evaluation methodologies, and speech functionality analysis. The approach taken is firmly applications-oriented, describing the results of research applicable to industry and showing how the development of advanced applications drives research rather than the other way around. All those working on the research and development of spoken language services, especially in the area of telecommunications, will benefit from reading this book.
by Jeffrey Rubin
April 15, 1994
A supremely usable nuts-and-bolts guide for beginners. A daily tool of the trade for specialists. Handbook of Usability Testing gives you practical, step-by-step guidelines in plain English. Written by Jeffrey Rubin, it arms beginners with the full complement of proven testing tools and techniques. From software, GUIs, and technical documentation, to medical instruments, VCRs, and exercise bikes, no matter what your product, you'll learn to design and administer extremely reliable tests to ensure that people find it easy and desirable to use.
by James A. Whittaker
May 9, 2002
How to Break Software is a departure from conventional testing in which testers prepare a written test plan and then use it as a script when testing the software. The testing techniques in this book are as flexible as conventional testing is rigid. And flexibility is needed in software projects in which requirements can change, bugs can become features and schedule pressures often force plans to be reassessed. Software testing is not such an exact science that one can determine what to test in advance and then execute the plan and be done with it. Instead of a plan, intelligence, insight, experience and a "nose for where the bugs are hiding" should guide testers. This book helps testers develop this insight. The techniques presented in this book not only allow testers to go off-script, they encourage them to do so. Don't blindly follow a document that may be out of date and that was written before the product was even testable. Instead, use your head! Open your eyes! Think a little, test a little and then think a little more. This book does teach planning, but in an "on- the-fly while you are testing" way. It also encourages automation with many repetitive and complex tasks that require good tools (one such tool is shipped with this book on the companion CD). However, tools are never used as a replacement for intelligence. Testers do the thinking and use tools to collect data and help them explore applications more efficiently and effectively.
by Daryle Gardner-Bonneau
March 1, 1999
Human Factors and Voice Interactive Systems highlights the importance of human factors in speech technologies and presents and demonstrates the use of human factors, principles, methods, techniques, and tools in the design of speech-enabled applications. Included is coverage of automatic speech recognition, synthetic speech, and interactive voice response systems. Some chapters are devoted to specific applications of speech technology, and other chapters are either issue-oriented or provide a comprehensive view of human factors knowledge and `lessons learned' in a specific applications area. This book places special emphasis on interactive voice response (IVR), devoting seven of its fourteen chapters to both speech-enabled and `traditional' touch-tone-based IVR applications. Other chapters emphasize speech recognition application development, natural language processing, synthetic speech, and the use of speech technology in assistive devices for people with disabilities to further the goal of universal access to information technology for all.
by Mark C. Russell
March 20, 2006
Research applying eye-tracking to usability testing is increasing in popularity. A great deal of data can be obtained with eye-tracking, but there is little guidance as to how eye-movement data can be used in software usability testing. In the current study, users' eye-movements were recorded while they completed a series of tasks on one of three e-commerce websites specializing in educational toys. Four main research questions were addressed in this study: (1) Are eye-tracking measures correlated with the more traditional measures of website usability (e.g., success, time on task, number of pages visited); (2) Are eye-tracking measures sensitive to differences in task difficulty; (3) Are eye-tracking measures sensitive to differences in site usability; and (4) How does the design of a website drive user eye-movements? Traditional usability performance measures consisted of time on task, number of pages visited, and perceived task difficulty. Eye-tracking measures included the number of fixations, total dwell time, and average fixation duration. In general, all these measures were found to be highly correlated with one another, with the exception of average fixation duration.
by Cem Kaner, James Bach, Bret Pettichord
December 15, 2001
Decades of software testing experience condensed into the most important lessons learned. The world's leading software testing experts lend you their wisdom and years of experience to help you avoid the most common mistakes in testing software. Each lesson is an assertion related to software testing, followed by an explanation or example that shows you the how, when, and why of the testing lesson. More than just tips, tricks, and pitfalls to avoid, Lessons Learned in Software Testing speeds you through the critical testing phase of the software development project without the extensive trial and error it normally takes to do so. The ultimate resource for software testers and developers at every level of expertise.
by Rex Black, Rex Black
July 19, 2002
An updated edition of the best tips and tools to plan, build, and execute a structured test operation In this update of his bestselling book, Rex Black walks you through how to develop essential tools and apply them to your test project. He helps you master the basic tools, apply the techniques to manage your resources, and give each area just the right amount of attention so that you can successfully survive managing a test project! Offering a thorough review of the tools and resources you will need to manage both large and small projects for hardware and software, this book prepares you to adapt the concepts across a broad range of settings. Simple and effective, the tools comply with industry standards and bring you up to date with the best test management practices and tools of leading hardware and software vendors. Rex Black draws from his own numerous testing experiences-- including the bad ones, so you can learn from his mistakes-- to provide you with insightful tips in test project management.
by Mike Kuniavsky
May 22, 2003
The gap between who designers and developers imagine their users are, and who those users really are can be the biggest problem with product development. Observing the User Experience will help you bridge that gap to understand what your users want and need from your product, and whether they'll be able to use what you've created. Filled with real-world experience and a wealth of practical information, this book presents a complete toolbox of techniques to help designers and developers see through the eyes of their users. It provides in-depth coverage of 13 user experience research techniques that will provide a basis for developing better products, whether they're Web, software or mobile based. In addition, it's written with an understanding of how software is developed in the real world, taking tight budgets, short schedules, and existing processes into account.
by Lesley Trenner, Joanna Bawa
April 1, 1998
The Politics of Usability is written by Usability professionals from a variety of non-IT organizations, who have dealt with the issues involved in getting started: how do you get started, how do you secure funding, how do you sell your message, what resources are available to help you? once you have convinced your colleagues of the benefits, what methods should you use in your environment, how do you work with applications developers? what happens when your department expands - how do you build a functional team, can you work effectively across international borders? The authors take you through the process of starting and running a Usability Group, alert you to the political problems you may encounter in getting off the ground and suggest some solutions. They also discuss ways to manage Usability once the idea has taken off, including ideas about where Usability should 'sit' within the , how to set up a Usability Lab and how to manage an expanding, international function.
by Joseph S. Dumas, Janice C. Redish
October 1, 1999
Ever since publication, A Practical Guide to Usability Testing has maintained its position as the premier text in the field. This revised edition preserves the straightforward approach of the original, and an extended preface brings it up to date with all recent developments. Written in plain English and filled with examples, the book begins by defining usability and explaining methods of usability engineering. Readers are taken through all the steps for planning and conducting a usability test, analysing data, and using the results to improve both products and processes. Included are forms that can be used or modified to conduct a usability test, and layouts of existing labs that will help readers to build their own.
by Jakob Nielsen, Hoa Loranger
October 1, 1999
In 2000, Jakob Nielsen, the world's leading expert on Web usability, published a book that changed how people think about the Web-Designing Web Usability (New Riders). Many applauded. A few jeered. But everyone listened. The best-selling usability guru is back and has revisited his classic guide, joined forces with Web usability consultant Hoa Loranger, and created an updated companion book that covers the essential changes to the Web and usability today. Prioritizing Web Usability is the guide for anyone who wants to take their Web site(s) to next level and make usability a priority! Through the authors' wisdom, experience, and hundreds of real-world user tests and contemporary Web site critiques, you'll learn about site design, user experience and usability testing, navigation and search capabilities, old guidelines and prioritizing usability issues, page design and layout, content design, and more!
by Elfriede Dustin, Jeff Rashka, Douglas McDiarmid, Jakob Nielson (Foreword)
August 23, 2001
Today's web software professionals must deliver new web applications to market quickly, while incorporating proper functionality, ease-of-use, security, and performance. This pressure underscores the need for effective engineering that facilitates both quality and rapid web system development. Quality Web Systems provides web developers and software test professionals with practical, experience-based guidance on web system engineering. Concise and straightforward, this book provides a framework for ensuring that key web system success criteria is addressed during the development of the web system. Detailed, technical guidance is provided for each success criteria, including testing strategies that allow for verification of a quality implementation. This book addresses the key success factors of quality web systems including: proper specification of system functionality, ease-of-use, compatibility with a variety of browsers, security, and system performance and scalability. Engineering these qualities into the system throughout the development life cycle, while performing relevant testing, prevents flaws that can later prove to be disastrous, and produces a product that is well-received by its customers. A case study is used throughout the book to illustrate practical applications of issues, approaches, strategies, and techniques.
by Kent Beck
November 8, 2002
Clean code that works--now. This is the seeming contradiction that lies behind much of the pain of programming. Test-driven development replies to this contradiction with a paradox--test the program before you write it. A new idea? Not at all. Since the dawn of computing, programmers have been specifying the inputs and outputs before programming precisely. Test-driven development takes this age-old idea, mixes it with modern languages and programming environments, and cooks up a tasty stew guaranteed to satisfy your appetite for clean code that works--now. Developers face complex programming challenges every day, yet they are not always readily prepared to determine the best solution. More often than not, such difficult projects generate a great deal of stress and bad code. To garner the strength and courage needed to surmount seemingly Herculean tasks, programmers should look to test-driven development (TDD), a proven set of techniques that encourage simple designs and test suites that inspire confidence. By driving development with automated tests and then eliminating duplication, any developer can write reliable, bug-free code no matter what its level of complexity. Moreover, TDD encourages programmers to learn quickly, communicate more clearly, and seek out constructive feedback.
by Hung Q. Nguyen, Bob Johnson, Michael Hackett, Hung Q. Nguyen, Robert Johnson, Michael Hackett
May 16, 2003
A software testing survival guide to deliver winning Internet-based applications. Accessibility, reliability, availability, and security of Web applications on all types of platforms are key to winning business and customers. The technology continues to change at a fast pace, and savvy end-users are demanding products and services with fewer bugs. This completely revised and updated book shows the latest technologies and expert tools, tips, and techniques for testing Web applications that run across many platforms and networks, including desktop and wired/wireless mobile clients. You'll quickly be able to maximize productivity, minimize quality risks, and optimize success in the Internet economy.
by Cem Kaner, Jack Falk, Hung Q. Nguyen
April 12, 1999
The original printing of Testing Computer Software set the standard for the emerging field of test engineering with a full tour of the state of the art in managing the testing process. The reissued text makes this classic out-of-print text available once again. Though it relies heavily on older examples (including MS-DOS) and has not been updated, this text is still a worthwhile resource for practical-minded advice on the realities of testing. The best thing about Testing Computer Software is its practical point-by-point guide to everyday software testing, from creating a test plan, to writing effective bug reports, to working with programming staff and management to fix bugs. That said, this book's early frame of reference shows how far we've come. (The book relies heavily on MS-DOS examples and features some truly embarrassing anachronisms, including the mention of testing dot-matrix printers and even EGA/VGA video modes.) The bibliography stops at sources from 1992 and features many references from the 1980s. Nowadays, automated software testing tools are the staple of any testing strategy. This book even advocates a wait-and-see approach to the "new" Microsoft Test. These limitations aside, there is still a good deal to mine here. Much of the approach to testing is still very valid for any aspiring or working test engineer. Clearly, readers of the first edition will have little reason to upgrade to this second edition, but for anyone who appreciates a "classic" (and indeed a pioneering) text in the field of software testing, it's good to have Testing Computer Software in print again.
by Carol M. Barnum
October 2, 2001
Built on a solid foundation of current research in the field, Usability Testing and Research provides a comprehensive, up-to-date perspective in this increasingly important area of technical communication. Based on the most current research in the field, this book reflects the most recent developments and studies on this topic available. Sidebars throughout the book catch the attention of the readers and highlight key concepts in the text. A chapter on web testing provides coverage of what is now the hottest area in usability testing. End of chapter discussions and exercises reinforce learning. Frequent examples of planning, conducting, and reporting usability tests present current samples of projects. An appendix on teamwork gives pertinent advice in an area neglected by other texts: building and coordinating cross-functional teams for usability testing. For those interested in usability testing and research.
by Elaina Norlin, CM! Winters
September 1, 2001
This brief book confines itself to a topic that is becoming more and more important to libraries: Web-site design, its ease of navigation, and requirements for maintenance. Usability testing, originally a marketing term, is used here when the effectiveness and user satisfaction of a site are being evaluated. Four goals are explored in improving library sites: usefulness, effectiveness, learnability, and user satisfaction. The authors feel that such testing should not be considered optional, but necessary facets of Web developmental stages. Steps for recruitment of a testing team, development of sample questions and tasks, and evaluation of results are included.
Usability Testing Books
