Research agenda

Through roundtable discussions with people whose identities can be underrepresented in usability studies and usability researchers we developed a research agenda for a community of technology users, creators of technologies, usability researchers, and all those advocating for equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in usability research. 

Research agenda for embedding equality, diversity and inclusion in usability testing

We suggest our community should embrace co-production through the following research agenda.

1. Advocate for, and increase the visibility of, inclusive usability testing.

2. Ensure usability research is a positive experience in which users feel safe, comfortable and valued.

3. Develop a diverse community of users and researchers. The larger and more diverse the community, the more that can be achieved.

4. Value and respect everyone by recognising everyone’s expertise, whatever their role and interest.

5. Create a knowledge bank to share best practices for embedding equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in usability. Sharing knowledge would surface more research and prevent duplication of effort.

6. Be open to learning from mistakes and sharing what has gone wrong.

7. Collect and share evidence of how equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) has improved products, services and systems. 

Please feel free to use and share these recommendations. When doing so we would appreciate that you cite this source: Rutter, S., Zamani, E., McKenna-Aspell, J., & Wang, Y. (2024). Embedding equality, diversity and inclusion in usability testing: recommendations and a research agenda. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 103278. 

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all those who contributed to the development of the research agenda: Kate, James Bollington, Stella Charles, Aude Christofides, Anne Collis, Rachel Dewar-Haggart, Jenny Featherstone, Ian Franklin, Paula Goodale, Cara Hammand, Loures Hanna, Anita Harrington, Beti-Jane Ingram, Andrea Lewis, Pooja Marwaha, Rachael Maun, Laura Owers, Lawrie Roberts, Cam Spillman, Emma Sutcliffe, Erin Tilley, Rachael Tunnard, Caroline Waugh, Rob Whiting, Rob Womack, Victoria Wood, Hannah Zafiropoulos and everyone else who participated but would like to remain anonymous.