directed dialogue protocols: verbal data for user interface design
The development of an interface design tool called directed dialogue protocols is discussed. The tool is based upon Kato's (1986) method of verbal data collection, question-asking protocols. Three extensions to the question-asking method are detailed: 1) an experimental procedure of atomic tasks which facilitate the quantization of verbal data; 2) interventions by the experimenter that probe the subject's expectations and prompt verbalizations; and 3) a technique for answering subject queries called sequential disclosure. Also discussed are applications of the directed dialogue that have identified design choices which build learnability and usability into a product's user-interface.
direct dialogue data user interface user interface design interface design design developer tool method data collection extensibility experimentation atom quantization probe queries applications usability product