Heuristic Evaluation & Expert Review Flashcards

How many usability heuristics did Jakob Nielsen define in his widely adopted heuristic evaluation framework?

Answer: 10

Jakob Nielsen defined 10 usability heuristics, which have become the standard framework for heuristic evaluation.

Which of Nielsen's 10 heuristics is best addressed when a system provides status indicators, progress bars, and loading messages?

Answer: Visibility of system status

Visibility of system status means the system should always keep users informed about what is going on through appropriate feedback.

In a heuristic evaluation, what is the recommended minimum number of evaluators to achieve good problem coverage?

Answer: 3–5

Research shows that 3–5 evaluators find the majority of usability problems; fewer miss too many issues and more yield diminishing returns.

Which heuristic is violated when a system uses jargon and technical language that the target users do not understand?

Answer: Match between system and real world

Match between system and real world requires that the system use words, phrases, and concepts familiar to the user, not internal system terminology.

What distinguishes a heuristic evaluation from a cognitive walkthrough?

Answer: Cognitive walkthrough focuses on learnability for new users step-by-step

A cognitive walkthrough focuses on evaluating whether a new user can learn to use the system by stepping through tasks sequentially, whereas heuristic evaluation rates the interface against usability principles.

During heuristic evaluation, evaluators typically work through the interface how many times?

Answer: At least twice: first to get a feel, then to focus on specific elements

Nielsen recommends evaluators go through the interface at least twice — a first pass to get a general feel and a second to focus on specific elements and log issues.

Which severity rating scale is most commonly used to prioritize findings in a heuristic evaluation?

Answer: A 0–4 scale based on frequency, impact, and persistence

Nielsen's 0–4 severity scale considers frequency, impact, and persistence, resulting in scores from 0 (not a usability problem) to 4 (usability catastrophe).