usability testing?

[Majed]

Hi all,

Firstly let me introduce myself – my name is Majed Alshamari and I have
been working in the usability area for several years now. I began my PhD studies in April
2007 and am focusing on the process of usability testing itself.

My work is concentrating on the way in which different types of tasks
affect the results from usability testing. So far I have been able to show
some interesting results, My research has also
explored the number of users needed for usability testing. All usability
tests have taken place individually in a “lab” at the university.
One of the reasons for my contacting this group at this time is that I am about to start
my second set of experiments. What I really need is access to a website
that has known problems, i.e. a site that has just been, (or is about to
be), evaluated. This would enable me to compare the existing results with
those gained from my experimental approach. The web site needs to have a
dynamic element. Of course all results, both the existing ones and my own,
would be treated as confidentialm.

Thanks,


Majed

[Dave Ellender]

I think there is a big barrier in the commercial usability testing: most sites that are evaluated come with clients who have just discovered a whole load of problems (some juicy strategic issues, some plain old design blunders) AND who don't want to tell anyone about these strategic challenges / stupid blunders. Result = Clients don't want to share this stuff. You are best advised to contact site owners directly and try and persuade them yourself.