Directed dialogue protocols: verbal data for user interface design
Stephen Knox, Wayne A. Bailey, E. F. Lynch · 1989
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.