Usability Guidelines and Reports
Why buy NNgroup’s reports when Usability.gov offers guidelines? Perhaps because some of their material is very specific (e.g., Site map usability). Then again, are guidelines relevant or useful? If they are useful, do they stand the test of time? (Yes: “About 90% of usability guidelines from 1986 are still valid, though several guidelines are less important because they relate to design elements that are rarely used today.”) But remember, for guidelines to be effective, they must be useful and they must be followed. And finally, while guidelines are useful and we should follow them when it makes sense, they can’t fully replace usability testing.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:40 pm
Have you ever bought a NNgroup report? Are they really worth the money? I have considered getting one of the annual intranet reviews, especially the government one, but can’t justify the cost because I have no budget. Also, any guidelines developed by so-called “experts” wouldn’t get anywhere around here.
April 21st, 2006 at 1:59 pm
I have not bought my own. However, I’ve seen excerpts and I’ve also talked with some folks who have spent the cabbage. They seem to be useful although not amazing. I personally think there is more value in books (e.g., DMMT), unless you need very specific advice.
April 21st, 2006 at 5:16 pm
I bought the 2005 Intranet Annual from NN, and felt it was about worth the money. I definitely picked up a few ideas and tips, and found the screenshots useful as well, since it’s very difficult to find real-world Intranet examples.
“Useful although not amazing”, as John says, would about describe them.
April 22nd, 2006 at 3:41 am
Useful!
Suggest that guidelines that can demonstrate best practice through designs work well. ‘Design Patterns’ have real merit …
April 22nd, 2006 at 9:24 am
A very helpul post! Thanks for the link to uie.com, that was a great article.
With regards to the other comments, I have purchased several NNGroup reports and must say that they were very useful and well done. I don’t always agree with Jacob Nielsen whole heartedly, but there reports are well written, well researched, and the ones I saw were backed by a solid methodology.
April 22nd, 2006 at 12:55 pm
nngroup reports 7/10
uie reports 8/10
adaptive path reports 7/10
April 23rd, 2006 at 6:13 am
Forrester also produce some useful reports.
Can be pricey but often supplements your own research quite nicely (even if it backs up similar findings).