The cognitive walkthrough is one of many methods for testing the usability of products. There are many others.
An overview of these methods, particularly those for validation of usability, can be found here.
1. Regulatory requirements
Neither IEC 62366 nor the FDA requires a specific procedure for reviewing usability engineering, and therefore does not require cognitive walkthroughs. However, both mention this type of review. The current edition of IEC 62366 requires verification and validation of usability engineering, while the FDA, like the second version of IEC 62366, refers to formative (developmental) and summative (final) evaluations.
2. Cognitive walkthrough as a form of inspection
Cognitive walkthroughs are used to verify usability. They are classified as inspection procedures. There are two basic approaches to inspection.
- “Read the user requirements or design guidelines and check the product to see if you, as an inspector, can find anything that matches them” (“heuristic evaluation”).
- “Walk through the usage scenario on the system and identify where you find usage problems” (“cognitive walkthrough”).
3. Ambiguity of the term “cognitive walkthrough”
A cognitive walkthrough can be two things:
- On the one hand, it can be used as a procedure for “inspection” by the inspector (without users).
- On the other hand, it can also be used to guide users through the “completion of the task on the system.” This would then be an “inspection with users.”
The way out is to say that inspections are typically carried out without users, but that users can also be used as “inspectors.” The term “cognitive walkthrough” is increasingly being replaced by “persona-based review.”
4. Conclusion
However, these are all terrible buzzwords. In practical terms, they refer to the verification of usage scenarios. A good usage scenario contains the user requirements, allowing you to walk through the product step by step. Many thanks to Thomas Geis for this input! Thomas Geis is the editor of several standards, including the ISO 9241 family. He offers the highly regarded seminar “Usability, Requirements & IEC 62366” at the Johner Institu
