What Is So Good about User-Centered Design? Documenting the Effect of Usability Sessions on Novice Software Designers

Abstract User-centered design proponents advocate the proactive role of the user in the software development process. This study describes how novice software designers interpreted usability sessions and how these designers responded to their users’ reactions to their respective prototypes. Qualitative analysis of class projects, usability sessions, and interviews with three groups of graduate students took place. A follow-up session involved written protocols from another group of graduate students. Overall, these usability sessions had minimal effect on these students’ prototypes and essentially did not yield any valuable information. In an effort to remedy this current situation, this study proposes recommendations on how to improve the training of educational software developers.

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