The Origins of SUS
SUS, short for ‘Software Usability Scale’, is a questionnaire used to evaluate the usability of software applications. It was developed by John Brooke in 1986 and has since become a widely used tool in the field of user experience design.
What is SUS?
The SUS questionnaire consists of 10 statements that users are asked to respond to on a scale of 1 to 5, ranging from ‘strongly disagree’ to ‘strongly agree’. The responses are then used to calculate a usability score, with higher scores indicating better usability.
Why SUS Matters
SUS provides valuable insights into how users perceive the usability of a software application. By understanding users’ experiences and preferences, designers can make informed decisions to improve the overall user experience.
Examples of SUS in Action
- A mobile banking app uses SUS to gather feedback from users on its new interface design. The resulting scores help the development team identify areas for improvement and make necessary updates.
- An e-commerce website conducts a SUS survey to track changes in usability over time. By regularly measuring SUS scores, the company can ensure that its website remains user-friendly and competitive.
Case Studies
A study conducted by Nielsen Norman Group found that SUS is a reliable tool for measuring software usability. They concluded that SUS scores were consistent across different user groups and effectively identified usability problems.
Statistics on SUS
According to a survey by MeasuringU, 85% of UX professionals use SUS to evaluate the usability of software applications. Additionally, 72% of respondents reported that SUS scores influenced design decisions and improvements.
