A survey of software learnability: metrics, methodologies and guidelines

It is well-accepted that learnability is an important aspect of usability, yet there is little agreement as to how learnability should be defined, measured, and evaluated. In this paper, we present a survey of the previous definitions, metrics, and evaluation methodologies which have been used for software learnability. Our survey of evaluation methodologies leads us to a new question-suggestion protocol, which, in a user study, was shown to expose a significantly higher number of learnability issues in comparison to a more traditional think-aloud protocol. Based on the issues identified in our study, we present a classification system of learnability issues, and demonstrate how these categories can lead to guidelines for addressing the associated challenges. Author Keywords Software, Learning, Learnability, Usability, Think-Aloud, Question-Suggestion, Evaluation. ACM Classification Keywords H5.2. Information interfaces and presentation (e.g., HCI): User Interfaces ? Evaluation/Method...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2009
• Where: CHI
• Authors: Tovi Grossman, George W. Fitzmaurice, Ramtin Attar
• Keywords: ACM Classification Keywords, CHI 2009, Evaluation Methodologies, Human Computer Interaction, Traditional Think-aloud Protocol