18F
18F - Cognitive Walkthrough
Cognitive Walkthrough is a usability evaluation method. Evaluators step through tasks as a user would. It focuses on the actions users take to accomplish goals, unlike examining isolated interface elements. Evaluators ask questions at each step: Will users know what to do? Will they notice the correct action? Will they understand feedback? This exercise reveals navigation, labeling, and mental model issues. Teams identify problems before user testing, saving time. Results include prioritized usability issues and recommendations.
Duration
1 hour
Group Size
3-5
Category
18F
Difficulty
Easy
Provide early feedback on a design's ease of use for new users. Identify reasons for usability issues.
- Cognitive walkthrough findings
- Identified first-time user issues
- Improved learnability
Consider the user's real-world context when defining tasks. It's easy to get caught up in the details and miss the bigger picture. Also, this method has "No PRA implications" and requires standard precautions for archiving personally identifiable information.
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