Usability testing of web sites designed for communities of practice: tests of the IEEE Professional Communication Society (PCS) web site combining specialized heuristic evaluation and task-based user testing

This paper describes an innovative methodology developed for usability tests of the IEEE PCS Web site that combines heuristic evaluation and task-based testing. Tests conducted on the PCS Web site examined whether the site facilitated members' ability to find information and participate in discussions, as well as developers' ability to find, contribute, and manage administrative content on the site. The unique social characteristics of Communities of Practice (CoPs) provide context for tailoring design heuristics for informational Web sites that serve the needs and interests of CoP members. Discussion focuses on technical communication principles that apply not only to evaluating the effectiveness of the PCS Web site design but also to all user-centered technical communication products and media that increasingly demand user participation.