Index_F

F

FAST (function analysis system technique), 191

Feature audit, 425

Features

affect on business goals, 58

choosing for usability testing, 260, 268–270

in competitive profiles, 423, 424–426

as competitive survey topic, 431

creating tasks for, 270–275

focus groups for prioritizing, 206, 233

identity design and, 52

prioritization exercise, 269

surveys for prioritizing, 355

usage survey questions, 308

Fielding a survey

bias reduction, 333–335

defined, 328

invitations, 335–339

sample and sampling frame, 328–331

sample size, 331–333

telephone, in-person, and mail surveys, 339–340

First impressions in usability testing, 280–281

5% standard error, 332

Flexibility, as iterative development benefit, 32–33

Flow models, 180

Focus Groups, 202, 213, 215, 240

Focus groups

analysing data, 240–248

asking questions, 232–233

assistant moderator, 228–229, 239

benefits and pitfalls, 70

bias in, 210–211, 247

breaks, 232

capturing initial hypotheses, 241

coding comments, 242–243

collecting data, 240–243

common problems, 233–236

competitive, 67, 206, 428

conducting, 223–238

defined, 201

diaries combined with, 469–471

discussion guide for, 214–223, 251–257

dominant participants, 235

ejecting participants, 238

emotional topics, 236

example, 248–257

exploratory, 205–206

extracting trends, 243–246

faulty assumptions, 233

for feature prioritization, 206, 233

friction groups, 463–464

group think, 233

hiring experts, 239–240

hostility in, 235–236

for identity design, 52

for interaction design, 49–50

in iterative development cycle, 36

latecomers, 233–234

limitations of, 204–205

making hypotheses, 247–248

moderating the discussion, 229–232

moderators, 227–228, 239

nominal group technique, 462–463

number of groups, 213

observer instructions, 237–238, 539–540

observers, 224–225, 236–238, 239

offensive ideas from participants, 236

online, 461

overly talkative participants, 234–235

overview, 69–70, 201–202

participant knowledge about, 211–212

physical layout, 223–226

prescreening participants, 210–211

proof and, 205

quantitative analysis of data, 246

questions, guidelines for, 215–216

quiet participants, 234

recruiting for, 211–213

for requirement gathering, 67

in research plan example, 81

reticent, 234

schedule for, 207, 208

scheduling service example, 38, 40–41, 42

scope of research, 207, 213–214

seating order, 224

size of groups, 213–214

as survey follow-up, 357

surveys combined with, 472–473

surveys vs., 204

tangents, 235

target audience for, 207, 209–211

telephone, 460–461

time requirements, 76

timing for, 201, 203

tips, 238–239, 246

topics, 207–208, 214, 236

transcribing data, 242–243

for trend explanation, 204–205, 207, 247

types of, 205–207

unqualified participants, 235, 238

usability testing vs., 204

uses for, 201–204

videotaping, 225–226

virtual, 460–461

Focus Groups as Qualitative Research, 209

Follow-up interview in contextual inquiry, 164, 170–171

Follow-up questions for surveys, 318–319

Food and drink for focus groups, 224

Forrester Research, 441

Fraser, Janice, 506

Frequency, importance vs., 181

Friction groups, 463–464

Friends and family recruiting

focus groups and, 211

as starting point, 88

for user advisory boards, 386

Friends and family usability test, 9–15

analyzing results, 14–15

creating tasks, 11–12

defining the audience and their goals, 10–11

major steps in, 10

recruiting, 12–13

running the test, 13–14

uses for, 9, 15

Function analysis system technique (FAST), 191

Functionality

communicating through tone, 26–27

as success criterion, 18, 19

total malfunction vs. mediocrity, 18

of Web surveys, 325

See also efficiency; usability

Future, not asking people to predict, 125