Usability Testing versus the Focus Group

BBC Radio 4's 'You and Yours' popular consumer rights show recently hosted a panel discussion on the relative merits of focus groups versus usability testing as a means of learning more about user preferences, behaviours and challenges.

A range of experts including David Travis, Principal Consultant with usability consultancy, Userfocus, put forward their arguments for each approach in a lively debate providing new insights into the pros and cons of the various techniques, with the panelists sharing an appreciation of the combined effect of various levels of expert input.

Featuring information, insights and presenter-baffling terms such as 'customer-facing' and 'ontological', the programme is available through the BBC's 'Listen Again' service until 24th July 2007. The focus group feature begins 29 minutes into the recording.

Associated Link: BBC Radio 4 'You and Yours', Wednesday 18 July

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