UX Expert for Usability Evaluation

Description I'm conducting academic research on professional usability evaluation practice. I'm hiring 10 experienced UX professionals to individually evaluate 5 screens and 1 core task flow of a live web application. The app is not publicly disclosed. Screens and access will be shared directly with you once selected, ahead of your scheduled session. The study compares two professional evaluation workflows. You'll be randomly assigned to one of them: (A) a fully independent expert evaluation, or (B) a structured workflow that includes reviewing AI-assisted analysis provided by the researcher. Both take the same time, both pay the same, and both rely on your expert judgment — neither is a "test" of you personally. You'll learn your workflow assignment at the start of your session. No special tools or subscriptions are required for either workflow. Session logistics Once selected, we'll agree on a fixed session start time. The evaluation runs as a single 3-hour sitting within that window — no extensions, no working ahead of time on the materials. For research validity, use of AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, etc.) is not permitted during the session, in either workflow — including Workflow B, where the AI-assisted analysis is provided by the researcher, not generated by you. This is monitored via the required screen recording, which is why recording is mandatory for all participants (see Data Use below). What you'll do Evaluate the provided screens and task flow against Nielsen's 10 heuristics, following your assigned workflow (materials, findings template, and a short onboarding video provided at session start) Record your working session (Loom or similar) — required for all participants, used only for research-process verification, never published Document each issue: description, location, violated heuristic, severity 0 (not a problem) to 4 (usability catastrophe), using the provided Google Sheet template Keep a simple time log Complete a short post-task questionnaire (~10 min) Expected time: ~2–2.5 hours of focused work, hard cap 3 hours. Flat fee applies regardless of whether you use 2 or 3 hours. Compensation: $120 fixed research honorarium upon delivery — independent of how many issues you find. There is no "target number" of issues; honestly reporting few issues is a fully valid outcome. You also get: The full study results and evaluation framework, shared with all participants after study completion Optional acknowledgment as a study participant Requirements 3+ years of professional UX/product design or UX research experience You have professionally conducted heuristic evaluations or expert reviews Fluent written English; individual work only (no delegation) Available for a single uninterrupted 3-hour session at an agreed time Data use This is academic research. All data — findings, recordings, time logs, and questionnaire answers — is anonymized and reported in aggregate. Your name never appears in any publication. To apply, please answer in your cover letter: