Design your way

Usability testing is one of the most useful methods for learning about how users interact with your website or software.

Unlike one on one sessions or focus groups, which try to encourage users to introspectively assess their own actions and choices, a carefully constructed user based test records genuine performance for mission specific jobs. If the user is unable to work out how to finish a task, no pleas of ‘but I loved the design’ can be used to convince the creator that it is good enough.

How to Begin

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To carry out a usability test, start by pinpointing a target market. The target market is going to be made up of one or several user categories. For instance, an individual platform might have information directed at shoppers and then different kinds of content designed for website administrators and manages.

It is probable that these two user categories are going to be carrying out different jobs throughout their individual forms of website interaction. They should be provided with jobs which represent their varying and distinctive usage trends.

Why Is Usability Valuable for Websites?

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The key advantage of website usability testing methods and the reason why they are essential is the fact that there are so many online platforms on the net. The bottom line is that, no matter how distinctive and unique you think your platform is, there are thousands of similar websites out there – users will just find a different one if yours does not satisfy.

You could have the most stunning platform around and users would still jump ship if it was clunky and hard to navigate.

There Are 3 Key Forms of Usability Testing

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Explorative, which is employed during the initial phases of product development and used to evaluate the impact and usability of an early prototype. It also assesses user thought patterns and conceptual awareness.

Assessment, used through product development or as an overarching usability test for technological value. Assesses real time functions of the product, in order to work out whether the value, purpose, and impact is high enough.

Comparative, which contrasts two or more instructional technologies or designs and pinpoints the strengths and vulnerabilities of each one.

How Long Should the Test Be?

A usability test can last from as little as five minutes to as long as sixty minutes (this is generally reserved for a complete response to an entire site or a new design).

The test should never last longer than this because the subjects will get bored and frustrated. The subjects should not know anything about the test before being picked to take it.

The test subjects can be neighbors, friends, students, volunteers; anybody who has not been involved with the building of the platform.

What is a User Task Analysis?

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The most essential thing which needs to be tested for is whether or not users are able to complete their jobs and objectives when they use the platform. Plus, you also have to make sure that they can complete their tasks as quickly and easily as possible.

The first step is to define what the most important user goals are. For instance, for a blog article, the most essential tasks are reading article content, locating previous content, and leaving feedback.

Carry out a task evaluation for each of these goals. Assess task performance, with the following having been taken into account.

• Learnability: How quickly can new users work out how to conduct the job? For harder jobs, are there resources (guides, instructions, tutorials) on the site to help them learn?
• Intuitiveness: How clear is the task at hand? How simple is it to understand?
• Efficiency: Are users conducting tasks in the most efficient way? Are there ways in which they could carry the tasks out more quickly?
• Precision: How likely are mistakes and problems when conducting the task? Why might these problems occur? How can the number of problems be decreased?
• Error Tolerance: If users run into problems whilst conducting the task, how quickly can they get back on track?
• Memorability: How simple is it to repeat the task and perform it again?
• Affordance: Are responsive features (buttons, links, etc.) linked with the completion of a task clearly responsive and easy to communicate with? It is obvious what the outcome will be when these responsive features are used?

User Experience Defined

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The theory of user experience (UX), at heart, attempts to assess and analyse how enjoyable an online platform is to interact with. This variable is mostly subjective, because it is concerned with user perspectives, which can vary wildly from person to person.

However, UX can be assessed using user responses. If you ask users what their opinions are, you can gain more of an insight into how they feel about your online platform.

To Be Accounted for When Measuring UX

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• Fulfillment: Do users feel like their goals have been met?
• Value: Do the users feel like they have gained something?
• Pleasure: Is interaction with the platform enjoyable and not frustrating?
• Positive Feelings: Do users experience positive feelings when using the site?

While evaluating UX, it is necessary to point out that a qualitative method is usually the only suitable approach. It is not possible to use quantitative methods to represent things like opinions and emotions.

Create a Script

A script can be used as a personal model of quality assessment. It is the best way to make sure that standards are upheld and that users are interacting with your website in an appropriate manner.

To Be Featured In the Script

Establish that the main objective of the test is the website and not the person. After that, explain the function of the test and any confidentiality issues. Begin the test with open ended queries (what if? Can you tell me more?). An important thing is to outline the tasks (Where would you go if you wanted to know about a movie?).

Tell the subjects to complete the task in their own time and manner and remember to thank them for their time.

It Is Time to Test the Script

Before you actually conduct the test for real, it is recommended that you have a test run, with a workmate in the place of a subject.

It is the case, with many test subjects, that politeness and cultural customs prevent them from raising important issues about the website usability testing methods – if you carry out a dry run with a friend, you will get the chance to honestly and transparently confront any weaknesses.

Once the dry run is complete, ask your workmate or friend for their thoughts on the quality and value of the test and test script. Make sure that you do not disregard your own part in it – ask specific questions about whether or not your actions were useful.

Did you think the test went well? Do you think I talked too much or too little? Did you feel pressured into saying or doing certain things? How do you think the test script could be made better for the subjects?

Once you are ready to conduct the actual test, you need to first spend some time with the subject and read through the script with them.

Next, switch on the computer and reveal the first platform which will be evaluated.

Begin the test

Keep a close eye on the actions and reactions of the subject.

You need to make a note of any occasions that the subject pauses for a long time, looks concerned, seems to be thinking hard, is confused, or is exhibiting frustration.

What Needs to Be Done After Testing

After the test has finished, collect the results and collate all of the relevant data – if you have carried out more than one test, with more than one subject, note any striking differences or similarities between them.

You should take a particular interest in any task which both (or several) of the subjects seemed to struggle with.

These are likely to be the main aspects which you will need to improve. The aim should be to get subjects performing these tasks more quickly and efficiently. This will require tweaking and alterations to your website, but be sure to make them carefully – refer back to the test results for clarity whenever needed.

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