usability testing method

Human computer interaction
Why Usability Test?
The goals of usability testing vary by study, but they usually include:
• Identifying problems in the design of the product or service
• Uncovering opportunities to improve
• Learning about the target user’s behavior and preferences
Elements of Usability Testing
There are many different types of usability testing, but the core elements in most
usability tests are the facilitator, the tasks, and the participant.
The facilitator administers tasks to the participant. As the participant performs

these tasks, the facilitator observes the participant’s behavior and listens for
feedback. The facilitator may also ask follow up questions to elicit detail from the
participant.
Facilitator
The facilitator guides the participant through the test process. She gives
instructions, answers the participant’s questions, and asks followup questions.
The facilitator works to ensure that the test results in high-quality, valid data,
without accidentally influencing the participant’s behavior. Achieving this balance
is difficult and requires training.
Tasks
The tasks in a usability test are realistic activities that the participant might
perform in real life. They can be very specific or very open-ended, depending on
the research questions and the type of usability testing.
Examples of tasks from real usability studies:
• Your printer is showing “Error 5200”. How can you get rid of the error
message?
• You're considering opening a new credit card with Wells Fargo. Please visit
wellsfargo.com and decide which credit card you might want to open, if
any.
• You’ve been told you need to speak to Tyler Smith from the Project
Management department. Use the intranet to find out where they are
located. Tell the researcher your answer.
Participant
The participant should be a realistic user of the product or service being studied.
That might mean that the user is already using the product or service in real life.
Alternatively, in some cases, the participant might just have a similar background
to the target user group, or might have the same needs, even if he isn’t already a
user of the product.
Participants are often asked to think out loud during usability testing (called the
“think-aloud method”). The facilitator might ask the participants to narrate their
actions and thoughts as they perform tasks. The goal of this approach is to
understand participants’ behaviors, goals, thoughts, and motivations.
Types of Usability Testing
Qualitative vs. Quantitative
Usability testing can be either qualitative or quantitative.
Qualitative usability testing focuses on collecting insights, findings, and

anecdotes about how people use the product or service. Qualitative usability
testing is best for discovering problems in the user experience. This form of
usability testing is more common than quantitative usability testing.
Quantitative usability testing focuses on collecting metrics that describe the user
experience. Two of the metrics most commonly collected in quantitative usability
testing are task success and time on task. Quantitative usability testing is best for
collecting benchmarks.
The number of participants needed for a usability test varies depending on the
type of study.
Remote vs. In-Person Testing
Remote usability tests are popular because they often require less time and
money than in-person studies. There are two types of remote usability
testing: moderated and unmoderated.
Remote moderated usability tests work very similarly to in-person studies. The
facilitator still interacts with the participant and asks her to perform tasks.
However, the facilitator and participant are in different physical locations.
Usually, moderated tests can be performed using screen-sharing software like
Skype or GoToMeeting.
• Lab usability testing

• Guerrilla testing
• Phone interviews
• Card sorting
Remote unmoderated remote usability tests do not have the same facilitator–
participant interaction as an in-person or moderated tests. The researcher uses a
dedicated online remote-testing tool to set up written tasks for the participant.
Then, the participant completes those tasks alone on her own time. The testing
tool delivers the task instructions and any followup questions. After the
participant completes her test, the researcher receives a recording of the session,
along with metrics like task success.
• Eye tracking
• Session recordings
• Online testing tools and platforms
• Observation
Cost of Usability Testing
Simple, “discount” usability studies can be inexpensive, though you usually must
pay a few hundred dollars as incentives to participants. The testing session can
take place in a conference room, and the simplest study will take 3 days of your
time (assuming that you have already learned how to do it, and you have access
to participants):
• Day 1: Plan the study
• Day 2: Test the 5 users
• Day 3: Analyze the findings and convert them into redesign

recommendations for the next iteration

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Human computer interaction

Why Usability Test?

• Identifying problems in the design of the product or service

• Uncovering opportunities to improve

• Learning about the target user’s behavior and preferences

Elements of Usability Testing

The facilitator administers tasks to the participant. As the participant performs

Examples of tasks from real usability studies:

Types of Usability Testing

Qualitative vs. Quantitative

Usability testing can be either qualitative or quantitative.

Qualitative usability testing focuses on collecting insights, findings, and

Remote vs. In-Person Testing

• Lab usability testing

Cost of Usability Testing

• Day 1: Plan the study

• Day 2: Test the 5 users

• Day 3: Analyze the findings and convert them into redesign

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