Qualitative/ Expert evaluation
Heuristic evaluation
Inspect interfaces against explicit usability principles
Heuristic evaluation asks evaluators to inspect an interface against stated principles and document likely usability problems. Independent inspections are consolidated, with severity judged using task impact and context. It can be conducted before a working product exists. Expert judgement generates hypotheses about users’ difficulties and is complementary to observing representative users attempting tasks.
WHEN IT FITS
Use it for early interface critique or a rapid review of known task flows when prototypes exist but user recruitment is constrained, and evaluators understand both the principles and relevant context.
Strengths
- Can identify problems before implementation is complete
- Produces actionable issues tied to recognised principles
Limitations
- Evaluator knowledge and disagreement shape findings
- Can miss problems specific to real users or accessibility needs
Know the boundary
Agent or expert inspection is not a substitute for tests with human users.
USED ACROSS
Computer scienceBusiness & MBA