ABSTRACT
Involving Older Adults in Research and Usability Studies Throughout this book we have emphasized the importance of a usercentered design approach that incorporates user requirements, user goals, user characteristics, and user tasks into the design process. One important aspect of this approach is including representative user groups in usability testing and design/evaluation studies. Given that older adults constitute an important user group for most systems, tasks, and products, the needs, preferences, and abilities of older people must be considered in product design and evaluation activities. Moreover, to ensure that the data gathered are valid and reliable, study protocols must also be designed with consideration for these needs, preferences, and abilities. The focus of this tutorial is on the importance of understanding some unique characteristics of older adult populations that must be considered when involving older adults in research and usability studies.
