title: A comparison of usability evaluation methods: heuristic evaluation versus end-user think-aloud protocol - an example from a web-based communication tool for nurse scheduling.
abstract: We evaluated a web-based communication tool for nurse scheduling using two common usability evaluation methods, heuristic evaluation and end-user think aloud protocol. We found that heuristic evaluation performed by human-computer interaction (HCI) experts revealed more general interface design problems, while end-users' think-aloud protocols identified more obstacles to task performance. To provide the most effective and thorough evaluation results, a combination of heuristic evaluation and end-user think-aloud protocol is recommended.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Columbia University, NY, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Po-Yin
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bakken
mesh_terms: D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D006804:Ergonomics; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D048108:Nursing Informatics; D009736:Nursing Process / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014584:User-Computer Interface