UX Foundations: Usability Testing

Run your own basic usability testing to find out just what your users need from your website, application, or device.

Introduction

• Usability testing
• Using the exercise files

1. What Is Usability Testing?

• What is usability testing?
• What you can usability test
• Planning your first test

2. Recruiting Participants

• How many people should you study?
• Finding the right participants
• Creating a list of participant attributes
• Making a screener
• Qualifying questions
• Convincing participants to show up
• Planning your study schedule
• Calling and calling again

3. Working Out What Questions to Ask

• Asking the right questions
• Collecting valuable metrics
• Sometimes the best question is no question
• Exploring some example questions
• Writing post-session questions
• Avoiding bias

4. Making a Task List

• Turning questions into tasks
• Task list logistics

5. Room and Equipment Preparation

• Creating the test environment
• Making do with what you've got
• Running studies in real locations

6. Ready to Test

• Creating a test plan
• Usability test formalities
• Running a pilot study

7. Moderating a Session

• The moderator's role
• Think-aloud protocol and minimal questions
• Session wrap-up: Participant questions, thanks, and gratuity

8. Observing a Session

• The observer's role: Active observation
• Capturing real-time observations
• Video: Record or not record?

9. Analyzing and Reporting Your Results

• Analyzing with your team
• Creating a minimal report
• Remember to retest
• Capturing metrics on the impact of usability testing

Conclusion

• Usability testing: Any team can do it
• Next steps