Abstract
In this paper we describe a method that can be used in the analysis and evaluation of interactive systems. This method is a combination of three techniques: logging, playback, and verbal protocols. We have employed the method in the evaluation of an interactive program verification system. This evaluation involved users on two levels of expertise: on one hand, novices taking a course on program verification; and on the other hand, subjects already familiar with verification. The system stored the commands of the test subjects into a log file while the test subjects were working on a given problem. Directly after the first session, a second one followed where the previous session was shown in playback on the terminal to the test subjects and they were asked to verbalize their work retrospectively. According to our tests the above procedure turned out to be a convenient way of obtaining data for system evaluation as well as data on the mental models formed by the subjects of the system. It is especially useful in early design phases eliciting user opinions, e.g., on prototype versions which then can be used for iterative design. In our case, the collected information has been utilized in the design of a new version of the verification system. In addition, the combined method can be useful in teaching, which is also demonstrated through our experiments.
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© 1987 Plenum Press, New York
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Hietala, P. (1987). Combining Logging, Playback and Verbal Protocols: A Method for Analyzing and Evaluating Interactive Systems. In: Rasmussen, J., Zunde, P. (eds) Empirical Foundations of Information and Software Science III. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1895-8_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1895-8_9
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