A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF HEURISTIC EVALUATION VS THINK-ALOUD PROTOCOLS IN DETECTING USABILITY PROBLEMS
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Abstract
This paper presents a systematic review comparing the effectiveness of two dominant usability evaluation methods: Heuristic Evaluation (HE) and Think-Aloud Protocols (TAP). Against the backdrop of rapid technological advancement between 2019 and 2025 including the proliferation of mobile health (mHealth) applications, AI-integrated systems, and the necessity of remote testing precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic this research evaluates the quantity, severity, and typology of usability problems detected by each method. By aggregating data from 25 comparative studies published within this period, the analysis reveals a distinct dichotomy: while Heuristic Evaluation remains the superior method for identifying high volumes of surface-level and consistency issues at a low cost, Think-Aloud Protocols are indispensable for uncovering severe, task-oriented cognitive friction points that experts often overlook. Crucially, recent data indicates that the shift to remote moderated TAP has maintained data quality while reducing logistical overhead, narrowing the cost gap between the two methods. The study concludes that a hybrid methodology, sequenced specifically to leverage Heurustic Evaluation for cleaning and TAP for validating, yields the most comprehensive usability assurance in modern agile development cycles.
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