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Option B represents a realistic, goal-oriented scenario that reflects how an actual user would interact with the website. It incorporates context, user intent, constraints, and desired outcome—all characteristics of well-designed usability tasks. Option A is vague and lacks real-world motivation. Option C is too prescriptive and limits insight into user behavior, while D is a survey question, not a usability task. According to Nielsen Norman Group and ISO 25062, the best usability tasks are scenario-based, realistic, and outcome-driven—making B the correct answer.

A pilot usability test session is a critical step prior to conducting the actual usability test. Its purpose is to ensure that the test setup, task design, and moderator instructions are clear and function as expected. According to ISO 9241-210 and the Nielsen Norman Group's best practices, pilot testing helps detect unforeseen issues and fine-tune the process. Options A and B are incorrect because testing conditions must reflect realistic scenarios, and thorough preparation is essential to gather meaningful usability data. Option D is also incorrect; a usability test typically consists of multiple sessions with different users to gather sufficient data for analysis. The pilot session ensures everything works smoothly before involving real participants.

Usability test reports are more effective when they are balanced and include not only problems but also what worked well. Including positive findings increases credibility, encourages the development team, and helps them understand what should remain unchanged. Option B violates privacy and ethical standards. Option C may dilute focus, and D could worsen the problem by making the report less accessible. Thus, the best practice supported by usability.gov and Nielsen Norman Group is to include both positive and negative findings.

Usability reviews evaluate a system or interface against established usability principles or standards to identify potential issues before user testing. A recognized criterion for such reviews includes adherence to usability standards such as ISO 9241 or the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These standards are derived from years of research and user-centered design principles. Options A and C do not directly relate to usability. Functional requirements (option B) refer to what the system should do, not how usable it is. Hence, option D is correct as usability standards provide a consistent, objective basis for evaluating usability.

Conducting user surveys involves a structured approach that ensures data collection is effective, reliable, and meaningful. The process typically starts with writing a survey plan, which defines the objectives, scope, target population, and methodology. Next, interviewing users and stakeholders is important to gather qualitative insights, refine survey questions, and align the survey with business goals and user needs.

Selecting or designing the questionnaire follows, which includes crafting clear, unbiased questions to capture the desired data. After that, deploying the questionnaire to the recruited participants is essential; this can be done via email, online tools, or in-person, depending on the context. Once the data is collected, it must be analyzed to extract meaningful patterns, trends, and insights. Finally, communicating the findings to stakeholders completes the process by informing decision-making.

Other options miss critical steps such as deploying the questionnaire (Option C), or combine steps incorrectly (Options A and D). Importantly, the step of interviewing users and stakeholders prior to deployment ensures the survey is well-informed and targeted, enhancing the quality and relevance of data collected.

The human-centered design process emphasizes iterative development—testing and refining designs through multiple cycles. In the scenario, the project manager interviewed users and evaluated a prototype but did not iterate based on feedback. Skipping iteration likely resulted in unmet user needs. Human-centered design, per ISO 9241-210, includes: understanding context of use, specifying requirements, producing design solutions, and evaluating—repeated iteratively. Hence, option D (“iterate”) is correct.

Positive usability findings play a key role in reinforcing what is working well in the user interface. They help:

A: Build developer confidence and soften criticism when pointing out issues.

C: Provide a complete picture of usability strengths and weaknesses.

D: Inform developers what should remain unchanged during redesign.

However, B is incorrect because justifying usability test costs should not rely solely on positive findings. Cost justification should come from the overall impact of usability on user satisfaction, performance, and business outcomes—not just good results.

A usability test session is a controlled period during which a test participant performs tasks using the system under test while being observed by a moderator and sometimes additional stakeholders or observers. The goal is to understand how users interact with the interface and identify usability problems. Option A describes an individual task, not the whole session. Option C refers to a test plan or test script, and Option D describes a test technique rather than a usability session. Thus, option B provides the most accurate and comprehensive definition.

Common mistakes in usability testing include:

Ignoring critical results (ii): A significant issue if findings are not acted upon.

Scheduling the test too late (iv): This can lead to usability problems being discovered too late to be addressed effectively.

Having the wrong focus (v): For instance, focusing on aesthetics instead of usability goals.

Option i ("user is too active") is not a problem—active participation is necessary. Option iii ("no observers involved") is not a typical mistake, since tests can still be valid even with recorded sessions and later review. Hence, the correct answer is A: ii, iv & v are true.

In usability evaluations, a distinction is made between actual usability problems (where a user struggles to complete a task or is confused by the interface) and suggestions or ideas that users provide based on their preferences or perceived improvements. When a participant offers a new feature idea (such as a quick search box), this is classified as a “good idea” or “feature suggestion,” not necessarily a usability problem. It may inform future design enhancements but does not indicate a failure in usability for existing functionality.