Heuristic Evaluation
A recording sheet for expert review, with severity rated from frequency, impact and persistence.
Definition
A structure for capturing heuristic evaluation findings so that several evaluators' results can be combined and prioritised consistently.
Expert heuristic. A review criterion developed by practitioners. Useful and widely taught, but evaluated by judgement rather than measurement.
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Scope
Specific flows and screens, plus the device and browser used.
Name the framework so findings can be compared across evaluators.
Who evaluated, their familiarity with the product, and any assumptions made.
Findings
One block per finding. Severity combines frequency, impact and persistence: critical blocks the task, high causes serious difficulty, medium causes friction, low is cosmetic.
Location, heuristic, what a user experiences, severity with reasoning, and a specific recommendation.
Keep findings atomic. One issue per block, so severities can be assigned independently.
Note positives too. They tell the team what not to break.
Summary
Group findings into two or three underlying causes, which is more actionable than a list of twenty items.
Expert review produces false positives and misses context-dependent issues. Say so.
Continue from here
Each link says what the connection is, so you can tell a principle from an alternative from a thing people mix this up with.
Applies when you are designing
Often used with
These usually appear in the same screen or the same decision.
- UX Audit ChecklistChecklist
- Heuristic EvaluationResearch method
- Design CritiqueTemplate
- UX Audit ReportTemplate
- Prioritising Design WorkWorkflow