CPUX-F Curriculum: Certified Professional for Usability and User Experience

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Questions and Answers

What does CPUX-F stand for?

Certified Professional for Usability and User Experience - Foundation Level

What does the term 'Human-centred design (HCD)' focus on?

User interface design only

Back-end development

End-user requirements only

Interactive systems development with emphasis on users (correct)

Human-centred design addresses only a part of the user experience (UX).

False

Match the following human-centred design deliverables with their corresponding activity:

Evaluation reports = Evaluate the designs against user requirements User needs = Specify the user requirements Style guide = Design solutions that meet user requirements Signup and view all the answers

Define usability.

Usability is the extent to which an interactive system is effective, efficient, and satisfying to use in a specified context of use. Signup and view all the answers

Who is considered an indirect user of an interactive system?

An individual who does not interact directly with the system but uses its output Signup and view all the answers

All stakeholders are users of an interactive system.

False Signup and view all the answers

Goals express what users want to achieve when carrying out a task with an interactive system. They are understood by interviewing users in the context of _____.

use Signup and view all the answers

Define a task in the context of interactive systems.

A set of activities undertaken in order to achieve a specific goal. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following methods of data gathering with their descriptions:

Observation = Method for gathering contextual information by watching users Interview = Data-gathering method where selected individuals are asked questions Focus Group = Moderated discussion of subjects between members of user groups Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are common examples of user interface elements? (Select all that apply)

Hyperlinks Signup and view all the answers

A single word in a paragraph of text is considered a user interface element.

False Signup and view all the answers

Define human-centered quality objectives.

Intended outcomes of the development of an interactive system for the user, focusing on usability, accessibility, user experience, or avoiding harm from use. Signup and view all the answers

In a contextual interview, the interviewer treats the interviewee as the ______ while the interviewer is the humble apprentice.

master Signup and view all the answers

Match the following components of the context of use with their descriptions:

User group profiles = Description of users As-is scenarios = Narrative text description of tasks in a specified environment Persona = Description of a realistic user Task models = List of subtasks for each task User journey maps = Provide overviews of touchpoints where users interact with the system Signup and view all the answers

What is usability?

The extent to which an interactive system can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction in a specified context of use. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three main criteria of usability?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

User experience only considers satisfaction during use.

False Signup and view all the answers

Accessibility is the extent to which an interactive system enables users to interact with it, regardless of their level of vision, hearing, dexterity, cognition, physical mobility, etc. It ensures ______________.

users can interact effectively, efficiently, and with satisfaction Signup and view all the answers

Match the following quality dimensions with their descriptions:

Human-centred quality = The extent to which requirements for usability, user experience, accessibility, and avoidance of harm from use are met. Technology-centred quality = Quality dimensions other than human-centred quality, focusing on technology aspects. Business-centred quality = Quality dimensions other than human-centred quality, focusing on business aspects. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a user survey?

To gather facts and opinions by completing a questionnaire. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of questions are often included in user surveys for gathering information about the context of use?

Open questions Signup and view all the answers

User surveys should be tested under development to ensure questions are understood correctly.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of an as-is scenario? To identify user _________.

needs Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their descriptions:

Persona = A description of a fictitious but realistic user and their intentions when using an interactive system. Task model = A description of a task consisting of the reason for starting the task, its goal, and the subtasks needed for completion. User Journey Map = A linear depiction of a user's interaction with an interactive system and the organization behind it. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a use scenario?

To describe how a user will carry out tasks with the planned interactive system Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a prototype?

To facilitate early evaluation of the effectiveness and efficiency of an interactive system Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of wireframes in low-fidelity prototypes?

Represent the intended interaction design Signup and view all the answers

Card sorting is a method used for structuring information in a navigation structure.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between user needs and user requirements?

User needs are prerequisites necessary to achieve a goal, while user requirements are conditions that must be met by the interactive system. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of requirement must be verifiable?

User requirement Signup and view all the answers

User requirements must be independent of any proposed solution, such as 'the ______.' Fill in the blank.

system Signup and view all the answers

Quantitative user requirements express human-centered quality in terms of measures like usability and accessibility. True or False?

True Signup and view all the answers

What follows an open card sort where users are asked to name each group?

If a majority suggest the same name, it is used as the group title Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of a high-fidelity prototype?

To inform the development of the interactive system. Signup and view all the answers

User assistance incorporates all forms of help available to a user, including user documentation, online help, and system-initiated ________.

guidance Signup and view all the answers

Match the following concepts with their descriptions:

Affordance = Aspect of an object that makes it obvious how it could be used Mental Model = Perception people have of themselves and things they interact with Design Pattern = General solution to a commonly occurring design problem in software design Sustainable Design = Approach that prioritizes people and planet by minimizing resources Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

CPUX-F Curriculum

Certified Professional for Usability and User Experience (CPUX-F) is a foundation-level certification that tests knowledge and understanding of human-centered design and usability concepts.

Introduction

This document defines the knowledge required to pass the CPUX-F certification test.
The certification test covers concepts and knowledge described in this document.
All relevant information about CPUX-F certification is available on UXQB.org.

Learning Objectives

Learning objectives (LO) are brief statements that describe what you are expected to know after studying a section.
LOs are characterised by the keyword "Understand".
Understanding means being able to recognize concepts even when described using different words.

Human-Centred Design

Human-centred design (HCD) is an approach to interactive systems development that focuses on the use of the interactive system and applies usability and UX knowledge and methods.
HCD involves users throughout the design process and is driven by user requirements.
HCD is an iterative process that refines until user requirements are met.
HCD addresses the whole user experience (UX).

Human-Centred Design Process

The HCD process can start at any point: understanding the context of use, specifying user requirements, designing solutions, or evaluating designs.
Regardless of the starting point, a thorough understanding of the context of use is essential.
The HCD process is iterative, with refinement continuing until user requirements are met.

Basic Concepts

Human-centred quality is a measure of an interactive system's usability, user experience, accessibility, and avoidance of harm from use.
Usability is the extent to which an interactive system can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction in a specified context of use.
User experience (UX) considers users' anticipated use, their satisfaction during use, and the fulfillment of their expectations after use.
Accessibility is the extent to which an interactive system enables users to interact with it, regardless of their level of vision, hearing, dexterity, cognition, physical mobility, etc.
Avoidance of harm from use aims to minimize the risk of serious negative consequences that could result from the use of the interactive system.

Human-Centred Quality

Human-centred quality is the overall goal of human-centred design.
Human-centred quality objectives are defined in the curriculum.

Usability

Usability is the extent to which an interactive system can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction in a specified context of use.
Effectiveness is the accuracy and completeness with which users achieve specified goals.
Efficiency is the resources used in relation to the results achieved.
Satisfaction is the extent to which the user's physical, cognitive, and emotional responses that result from the use of an interactive system meet the user's needs and expectations.

User Experience

User experience is a user's perceptions and responses that result from the use and/or anticipated use of an interactive system.
User experience is a consequence of brand image, appearance of the interactive system, functionality, system performance, interactive behavior, and assistive capabilities of the interactive system.
User experience also results from the user's internal and physical state resulting from prior experiences, attitudes, skills, abilities, and personality; and from the context of use.

Accessibility

Accessibility is the extent to which an interactive system enables users to interact with it, regardless of their level of vision, hearing, dexterity, cognition, physical mobility, etc.
Standards and guidelines for accessibility are available; standards may be legally enforced in some markets.### Accessibility Guidelines
W3C's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 and ISO 9241-171 are relevant guidelines for assistive technologies.
Screen readers rely on descriptions (e.g., alt tags) to convey the meaning of non-textual elements.

Interactive System

An interactive system consists of hardware, software, and services that users interact with to achieve specific goals.
This includes packaging, user documentation, online help, support, and training.

User-System Interaction

User-system interaction is an exchange of information between a user and an interactive system via the user interface to complete a task.

User Interface

A user interface is made up of many user interface elements.
User interface elements are the basis for creating the functions that users need to complete tasks.

Human-Centred Design Project

Planning a human-centred design project involves determining the appropriate HCD techniques and deliverables.
It requires defining human-centred quality objectives in cooperation with users and other stakeholders.

Human-Centred Quality Objectives

A human-centred quality objective is an intended outcome of the development of an interactive system for the user.
Examples of human-centred quality objectives include usability, accessibility, user experience, and avoidance of harm from use.

Context of Use

The context of use has five components: users, goals, tasks, environments, and resources.
Stakeholders are individuals or organisations with an active interest in an interactive system.

Users

A user is a person who interacts with an interactive system or uses the output of the system.
Types of users include primary users, secondary users, and indirect users.

Primary Users

A primary user is a user who uses the interactive system for its intended purpose.

Secondary Users

A secondary user is a user who carries out support tasks with the interactive system.

Indirect Users

An indirect user is a user who uses the output of the interactive system but does not interact directly with it.

Stakeholders

A stakeholder is an individual or organisation with an active interest in an interactive system.
All users are stakeholders, but not all stakeholders are users.

User Group

A user group is a group of users with the same or similar personal characteristics and contexts of use.

User Group Profile

A user group profile is a generalised description of a user group.

Goal

A goal is the intended outcome of a task.

Task

A task is a set of activities undertaken to achieve a specific goal.

Subtask

A subtask is a step undertaken to complete a task.### Environment
Refers to physical, social, and technical conditions in which a user interacts with an interactive system
Physical conditions: relate to everything with a physical parameter assigned to it (e.g., room size, luminance, noise)
Technical conditions: relate to access to energy and connectivity (e.g., wi-fi access, power sockets, telephone line)
Social conditions: shaped by society (e.g., working conditions, laws and regulations, access to information, colleagues)

Resource

Means required to achieve an intended outcome in the context of use
Can be reusable (e.g., equipment, information) or exhaustible (e.g., time, human effort, financial resources, materials)
Examples of equipment: smartphones, printers, computer mice
Examples of materials: paper, ink cartridges

Observation

Method for gathering contextual information relating to user needs
UX professional watches users carrying out tasks using the interactive system
Observer behaves unobtrusively except for occasional clarifying questions
Can take place in a natural context (e.g., user's workplace, home, shop) or remotely (e.g., video link, screen recording)

Interview

Data-gathering method where carefully selected individuals are asked questions to gain a deep understanding of the context of use
Purpose is to identify user needs
Interviewer uses an interview guide to ensure all relevant topics are covered
Interview can take place remotely (e.g., video link)
Important insights are documented in interview notes

Contextual Interview

An interview that takes place at the location where users usually perform tasks related to the interactive system
Goal is to have a conversation, dig deeper, and ask clarifying questions

Interview Guide

Written list of suitable questions and cues used by the interviewer during an interview
Can be adapted between interviews based on gained insights

Master-Apprentice Model

Technique for a successful interview: interviewer treats the user as the master and themselves as the apprentice
Goal is to understand users' goals and tasks in detail by learning them as an apprentice would
Interviewer asks questions sincerely, without demonstrating knowledge, and takes everything the user says seriously

Focus Group

Moderated discussion of predetermined subjects and questions between members of one or more user groups
Purpose is to gain a deep understanding of selected subjects and key context of use questions from different perspectives in a group setting
Typically has 4 to 8 participants and a moderator

User Survey

Data-gathering method where users are asked to report facts and opinions by completing a questionnaire
Can be used to gather information about the context of use or to measure satisfaction or user experience
Often consist of open questions that require free text responses
Requires a significant number of responses (hundreds or more) to be statistically reliable

As-is Scenario

Narrative text description of how a user currently completes one or more tasks in the current context of use
Primary purpose is to identify user needs
Describes how one or more tasks are carried out in the current context of use in a way that can be understood by stakeholders
Can be developed together with personas and reviewed by users to detect misunderstandings

Persona

Description of a fictitious but realistic user and what they intend to do when using an interactive system
Purpose is to create empathy for users among stakeholders
Typically includes a name, age, background, goals, and aspirations
Can include a photo to create the illusion of a real person

Task Model

Description of a task consisting of the reason for starting the task, the goal it supports, and the subtasks that have to be carried out to complete it
Purpose is to help UX professionals and stakeholders understand tasks with which they are unfamiliar
Can be created as part of specifying the context of use and modified during design

User Journey Map

Linear depiction of a user's interaction with the interactive system and the organisation behind it covering encounters that influence the user experience
Purpose is to provide an overview of a user's journey through the interactive system and the associated encounters with the organisation
Includes the risks, opportunities, and pain points the user encounters at each touchpoint, and a sentiment line

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Description

This quiz covers the foundation level of the CPUX-F Curriculum, a certification program for usability and user experience professionals.