Software Quality Assurance Practice Exam

Is it true or false that Jakob Nielsen's usability research states it is impossible to detect all usability errors in an application?

1. True

2. False

The correct answer is: True

Jakob Nielsen's usability research indeed supports the idea that it is impossible to detect all usability errors in an application. This conclusion arises from several key principles related to human-computer interaction and usability testing. Usability, by its nature, is subjective and can vary significantly among different users, each with their own experiences, preferences, and contexts of use. Specifically, Nielsen suggests that while usability testing helps identify numerous issues, the unpredictability of user behavior and the diversity of individual needs mean that testers cannot account for every possible interaction a user might have with a system. Additionally, Nielsen's studies emphasize that the cost and complexity of testing every potential scenario increase dramatically with the number of variables involved in how people use software. Therefore, while it is essential to conduct thorough usability testing and strive to uncover as many errors as possible, accepting that some usability issues may go undetected is a realistic view within the field of software quality assurance. This perspective encourages continuous improvement and iteration rather than striving for unattainable perfection in usability.