Question

When performing a cognitive walkthrough, what is the specific criterion used to evaluate if a user will successfully execute a step in a workflow?

Accepted Answer

In a cognitive walkthrough, the specific criterion used to evaluate if a user will successfully execute a step is whether the user will form the correct goal, find the correct action, associate the action with their goal, and correctly interpret the system feedback. To pass this criterion, the user must experience a successful &#x27;link&#x27; between their intention and the interface. First, the user must have a clear goal or sub-goal that aligns with the task. Second, the user must perceive that the correct interface element is available and visible. Third, the user must correctly associate that specific interface element, such as a button or menu item, with the action needed to achieve their goal. Fourth, after performing the action, the user must be able to correctly interpret the system feedback to determine if the action was successful and if they are closer to their final goal. If the user cannot clearly make any one of these four connections, the step is considered to have failed the evaluation, indicating a usability issue in the design. For example, if a user needs to save a file but the &#x27;Save&#x27; icon is abstract or hidden behind an ambiguous menu, the user will fail the criterion because they cannot associate the action with their goal of saving the document.

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When performing a cognitive walkthrough, what is the specific criterion used to evaluate if a user will successfully execute a step in a workflow?