Today we are testing the instructions for the Vector Mousetrap.
Our purpose is to see if these instructions are accurate, and how much they actually help you in completing the task.
As you work, please say out loud what you are reading, thinking, and doing. Help me monitor the process you go through so I can go back later and reconstruct what happened. Please read the instructions aloud, as well as talking about what you are doing, any problems you encounter, anything that seems unclear or otherwise helps or hinders you. I’ll demonstrate this before we start.
If you stop talking, I’ll remind you to by saying something like “please keep talking aloud”.
During the test my two associates and I will record what you say for future
reference. If you have trouble with a task I won’t answer any questions,
but please continue to talk aloud as you work through it. Try to work as if
you were alone, just try to pretend we’re not here.
Let me emphasize that we are testing the instructions, not you. Anything you
do is reasonable; there are no right or wrong actions.
If you want to take a break, or stop this test for any reason, just let me know.
Any questions before we start?
[Demonstrate thinking aloud.]