Collective Heuristic Evaluation

CORE DEFINITION

In this usability method, multiple evaluators independently inspect an interface using a set of heuristic rules, such as Nielsen's ten usability heuristics, and their findings are then merged and de-duplicated. The core claim is that combining several perspectives raises problem discovery substantially: a single evaluator finds on average only about 35 percent of usability problems, while three to five evaluators uncover more than 75 percent. The key qualification is that expert inspection supplements but never replaces testing with real users.