usability testing: making it fast, good, and cheap
TRANSCRIPT
Usability testingMaking it fast, good, and cheap
Whitney QuesenberyCenter for Civic Design
@civicdesign | @whitneyq
#DotGovDesignConf
27 March 2015
What can you learn
from a usability test?
And how you can make it a
useful part of your work.
Do you think this is usability testing?
Photo: www.unic.com
Usability testing can also look like this
Photos: UXBlog.com
What makes it a
usability test?
We observe people's behavior
Quietly
And use the results to inform
design
What do you want to learn?
Do people understand
how to fill in a form?
Qualitative
relationship
mental models
context of use
but also
how many people have
different understandings
Which design helps people
fill in the form accurately?
Quantitative
how many like each
number of errors
severity of errors
but also
insights into the source and
nature of the errors
The recipe for a usability test
Location and context formal informal
Participants defined opportunistic
Technology yours theirs
Activities instructed tasks free tasks
Goals usable useful
Results quantitative qualitative
Location: Go where the people are
Participants: How will you find them
Convenience
Purposeful
Quota
Participants: Not just demographics
Attitude(motivation, emotion, persistence,
optimism, tolerance for frustration)
Aptitude
(knowledge, expertise, habits, skills)
Ability
(physical and cognitive attributes)
http://www.slideshare.net/danachisnell/character-creator
Asssistive Technology: Refreshable Braille, mouth stick, screen reader, magnifier, iPad (Glenda Watson Hyatt
Technology: Diversity of devices
Tasks: Think about the 5 Es
Effective
Efficient
Engaging
Error-tolerant
Easy to learn
and don't forget delight
Let's talk
What are you working on?
What do you want to learn
about usability?
Planning a
usability program
Look for balance
Look for balance
Think about cadence
Seeing the Elephant: Defragmenting User Research by Lou Rosenfeldhttp://alistapart.com/article/seeing-the-elephant-defragmenting-user-research
Rocket Surgery
First Fridays @ DigitalGov
3 participants; 35 minute sessions
Debrief over lunch to identify the 3 most serious problems
Site stakeholders agree in advance to work on recommendations within one month.
www.digitalgov.gov/resources/digitalgov-user-experience-program/www.sensible.com/rsme.html
What about the Paperwork Reduction Act?
https://www.digitalgov.gov/files/2014/01/PRAPrimer_04072010-2.pdf
Fast Track Clearance for PRA
When the data collection
Is focus on improving services
Is voluntary
Does not require statical rigor
Does not put high burden on
participants
Will not be published as quantitative,
generalizable data
http://www.digitalgov.gov/resources/digitalgov-user-experience-program/digitalgov-user-experience-program-usability-starter-kit/
Take any opportunity for a quick
usability observation
The next time someone asks you a question about your site, ask them to use it instead.
Watch as they try to find the information.
Just do it
Fast – small, frequent
Good – insights you need
Cheap –informal methods
