Understanding software developers’ awareness and knowledge about user experience and usability

Abstract

This study aimed to understand software developers' awareness and level of knowledge about user experience and usability. The study also examined software developers' opinions regarding integrating usability activities into software development processes. Fifty-nine software developers participated to the study. In the first part of the study, data were collected through questionnaire. In the second part of the study, in-depth interviews were conducted with a group of volunteer participants and detailed information was obtained about the topic. Results of the study revealed that majority of the software developers did not have any training related to user experience, usability or human-computer interaction. The majority of the participants consider themselves as the least experienced and uninformed members of a software development project about user experience and usability. The results also revealed that software developers in the study have incomplete and misinformation about user experience and usability.