Agenda.! What is usability and why does it matter?! The basics: How to conduct a usability test! Q&A

Transcription

1 Usability Testing

2 Agenda! What is usability and why does it matter?! The basics: How to conduct a usability test! Q&A

3 What is Usability?! Steve Krug, author or Don t Make Me Think! Making sure that something works well: that a person of average (or even below average) ability and experience can use the thing for it s intended purpose without getting hopelessly frustrated.

4 Business Benefits of Usability! Increased productivity! Increased sales and revenues! Decreased training and support costs! Reduced development time and costs! Reduced maintenance costs! Increased customer satisfaction uxpa.org

5 Collecting Feedback! s/contact forms! Surveys! Interviews! Focus Groups! Social listening! Website activity (analytics)

6 Behavioral Research vs. Self-reported Data Nielsen/Norman

7 What is Usability Testing?! A technique used to evaluate a product by testing it on representative users! Goal:! Identify any usability issues! Collect data on performance! Determine user satisfaction with the product

8 Benefits of Usability Testing! It isn t that expensive! It doesn t take that long! You can learn a lot:! If participants can complete important tasks! How long it takes to complete tasks! Identify if users are satisfied with the site or product! Identify changes or improvements

9 Basic Steps for a Usability Test 1. Plan usability test 1. What do you want to test? 2. What is the most important thing about your site? 2. Conduct the sessions 3. Analyze findings 4. Communicate, present, and track findings 5. Modify and retest designs

10 What to Test?! Live site as it exists now! Paper prototype or sketch of new design! Workable HTML prototype! Competitor sites

11 ! Test early and often When to Test?! Identify problems before they go into production

12 1. Usability lab Where to Test? 2. Office space/conference room: a place to record a session and place to observe the study 3. Coffee shop or other public location 4. In the participant s natural environment

13 Basics of User Testing: What you need! About 4-6 participants (actual users not coworkers)! 7-10 tasks/scenarios for participants to complete! Hardware (computer, phone, tablet, etc.) and a website, prototype, application, etc. to test! Recording software (Morae, Silverback, Camtasia, UICapture)! Web conferencing software for observers (Lync, Morae, GoToMeeting, WebEx)! Incentives for participants! Paperwork script, confidentiality agreement, consent form, post-study questions, scenarios, etc.

14 Why Use Only 4-6 Users? Nielsen/Norman

15 How to Recruit?! Recruit via:! Craigslist! Feedback forms, your website! Social media sites! Word of mouth! Newspaper! Professional recruiters/companies

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17 How to Conduct a Study: Develop Tasks! Create 7-10 tasks (5+ backup questions)! User study tasks are:! Important to your business objectives! Quick and to the point! Are useful when participants don t need background information! Have an end! Examples:! Where on this site would you go if you wanted to know what would happen to your retirement benefits in the event of divorce?! What is the complete amount you owe now on this credit card?! Using this site, how would you change your HawkID password?! Bad example:! Learn about the organization.

18 How to Conduct a Study! Test the test first (on yourself, then a coworker or friend)! Set up, clear state of system (erase cookies, history)! Introduce yourself and make them feel comfortable! Acknowledge the unnatural situation! Explain lab set-up and test procedure! Offer drinks and breaks! Sign consent form, give incentive! Have the participant read the tasks aloud and then perform them! Probe as needed! Collect data/take notes! Debrief participants

19 Facilitator Roles! While facilitating observe and monitor:! Tasks and behaviors! Session time! User comfort! Consider whether to interrupt or ask questions! Stay quiet and neutral (don t ask leading questions)

20 After the Test! Facilitator and observers immediately discuss findings while it s fresh! Compile findings! Analyze your results! Create and prioritize recommendations! Usability priority vs. business priority! Write a report/s! Share/present findings

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23 ! Usabilityhub.com! 5 second test! Click test! Nav flow test! Preference test Other Resources

24 Questions?! Contact:!

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