General provisions

The course is given in the Master's programme in human computer interaction as well as as a freestanding course. The language of instruction is English.

Entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree equivalent to a Swedish degree of at least 180 credits (i.e. three years of full-time studies) containing IT-related course modules comprising the equivalent of at least 30 credits total. All applicants need to verify English language proficiency. This is normally attested by an internationally recognised test as TOEFL or IELTS.

Learning outcomes

The aim is that the student should acquire knowledge of common methods in usability evaluation and their scientific foundations. On completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

- account for commonly occurring methods for usability evaluation

- choose appropriate method during different circumstances

- show knowledge in ethical guidelines for studies that concern people

Competence and skills

- independently be able to carry out and analyse an experimental usability evaluation

- communicate results of a usability evaluation

- carry out a heuristic evaluation

Judgement and approach

- be able to reflect on possibilities and risks associated with the choice of evaluation methods

- show knowledge of the rights of participating test persons and protection of privacy

Content

Expert-based, rule-based, questionnaire-based and experimental evaluation methods. Field studies. Documentation of usability evaluations.

Instruction

The teaching consists of lectures, seminars, group assignment as well as supervision.

Assessment

The students are assessed through their performance in seminars, the quality of their coursework and the results on a written exam.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator or a decision by the department's working group for study matters.