Step 1 Prepare a Test Plan

Step 2 Recruit Users

Step 3 Test!

Step 4 Debrief & Analyze

Step 5 Make Changes

Usability Testing & YouUniversity of Illinois Web ConferenceApril 30, 2015

Melinda MillerDirector of User Experience & Research at Pixo @MelindaMiller

Cate KompareUser Experience Designer at Pixo @CateKompare

Usability Testing Popup Lab

What is UX?

What is usability testing?

What is it not?• Not about what people “like”

• Not a focus group

• Not QA

• Not the only UX activity

• Quantitative

• Not testing our users!

Why do it?

Let’s do a usability test!

Debrief

Steps:1 Prepare a Test Plan 2 Recruit Users 3 Test! 4 Debrief & Analyze 5 Make Changes

Step 1 Prepare a Test Plan

Test when? 1STEP

Test where? 1STEP

Test what? 1STEP

Low-fidelity design 1STEP

High-fidelity design 1STEP

Script 1STEP

Scenarios 1STEP

Tasks• Write open-ended questions

• Avoid jargon

• Synonyms

• Do not ask for opinions or speculate about the future — observing actual behavior is more meaningful

• Conversational

• Unambiguous

• Give enough info & context for success

1STEP

What tasks? 1STEP

Step 2 Recruit Users

Pro-tips:• Incentivize

• Let people know how they are helping

• Tailor your approach to your users

• Meet users where they are

• If all else fails, there are recruitment agencies out there…

2STEP

Lunchtime Testing 2STEP

Step 3 Test!

What you’ll need 3STEP

What it wouldn’t hurt to have:• Recording software

• Snacks & drinks

3STEP

Facilitator 3STEP

Thinking out loud 3STEP

Facilitator’s Phrases• What are you looking at right now?

• Can you tell me more about…?

• What did you think would happen when…?

• What would you do if I wasn’t here?

• This is very helpful.

3STEP

Staying on track 3STEP

Observers 3STEP

Observers 3STEP

Observers 3STEP

Observers 3STEP

Observers 3STEP

Mobile Testing 3STEP

Remote Testing 3STEP

UsabilityHub 3STEP

And there’s more 3STEP

Step 4 Debrief & Analyze

Use the Rubric 4STEP

Triage 4STEP

Step 5 Make Changes

Something is better than nothing

5STEP

But what about…

Cloze Test

If you want to __________ out whether

your site __________ understand your

content, you __________ test it with them.

Readability Score

Card Sorting

Interviews & Ethnographic Observation

Surveys

Analytics

Go forth and test!

usabilitypopuplab.com

www.meetup.com/uxchambana/