A Comparison of Usability Evaluation Methods: Heuristic Evaluation versus End-User Think-Aloud Protocol - An Example from a Web-based Communication Tool for Nurse Scheduling

We evaluated a web-based communication tool for nurse scheduling using two common usability evaluation methods, heuristic evaluation and end-user think aloud protocol. We found that heuristic evaluation performed by human-computer interaction (HCI) experts revealed more general interface design problems, while end-users' think-aloud protocols identified more obstacles to task performance. To provide the most effective and thorough evaluation results, a combination of heuristic evaluation and end-user think-aloud protocol is recommended.