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ReferencesNavigation arrowAuthorsNavigation arrowD. Bruce Thomas
Jun 20

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D. Bruce Thomas

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Publications by D. Bruce Thomas (bibliography)

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1994
 
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Jordan, Patrick W. and Thomas, D. Bruce (1994): Ecological Validity in Laboratory Based Usability Evaluations. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 38th Annual Meeting 1994. pp. 1128-1130.

“An interview based survey, looking at the suitability of a laboratory facility for usability testing, raised the issue of 'ecological validity'. Ecological validity refers to the extent to which the test environment mirrors the environment in which a product would be used in 'real life'. Ten ergonomists, nine of whom used the laboratory, were interviewed. Opinions of the laboratory were generally positive; indeed there was a consensus as to the high value of the facility in the ergonomists' work. However, only one of those asked felt that the laboratory provided as ecologically valid testing environment. Initially, this result seems surprising; if the conditions don't provide ecological validity, this would appear to be a limitation on the laboratory's value. This paper considers the concept of ecological validity; discussing the contexts in which it is important and those in which it is not a priority. The extent to which it can be achieved in the laboratory and how it could be achieved are also considered. Generally, the ergonomists were fairly pessimistic about the prospects for this. All, bar one, of the ergonomists interviewed also conducted studies outside of the laboratory. The part played by ecological validity in deciding to evaluate in the field is discussed; at what point does the issue become important enough to force evaluations outside of the laboratory? Five non-ergonomists from the same organization were also interviewed. Interestingly, they seemed to give ecological validity a higher priority than ergonomists, in terms of influencing the overall value of an evaluation. They were also more inclined to expect ecological validity to be achievable in the laboratory -- by using furniture to create an appropriate range of scenarios. This suggests that, even if scenario creating has no real effect on ecological validity (this was the opinion of many or the ergonomists), it may bring 'propaganda' benefits in terms of influencing commissioners' attitudes towards ergonomists' work.”

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Jun 20

“ ...that strange new zone between medium and message. That zone we call the interface ”

-- Steven Johnson, 1997

 
 

Featured chapter

Read the fascinating history of Wearable Computing, told by its father, Steve Mann

Read Steve's chapter !

 
 

Latest books

The Social Design of Technical Systems: Building technologies for communities
by Brian Whitworth and Adnan Ahmad

 
Start reading

The Encyclopedia of Human-Computer Interaction, 2nd Ed.
by Mads Soegaard and Rikke Friis Dam

 
Start reading
 
 

Help us help you!

 
 
 
 
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