During this lecture, we looked at usability testing and why it is so important when creating a platform. During the lecture, we split into groups of three and conducted a short usability test of the Ulster website. I was the observer in this task, so I took notes and looked at exactly what the participant and the facilitator were doing while testing the website. We were given an area to find on the website, which the participant had to find overall, the participant found it easy to find the areas of the website without any confusion or redirection. They mostly used the search bar, showing that it is vital.
Overall I found this a very fun and interesting task as we were able to see how the user navigated what they were thinking and how they would use the app/website. I will use this method when testing my products as it is vital to get another person's perspective. I wanted to take a further look into usability testing and the benefits of usability testing. I wanted to have a look at the other methods of usability testing as they were interesting to me.
Key benefits to usability testing
- reduces the development costs as it fixes the issue early therefore saving money and time
- by understanding what the user wants and needs you can tailor products towards this
- you will be able to improve the accessibility and design for inclusivity
- boost customer satisfaction create loyal customers and create a good brand reputation
- base the decisions on the feedback.
Usability testing formats
- qualitative vs quantitative
- qualitative user emotions, motivations and experiences
- quantitative measures things like completion time and error rates. this focuses on the what
- moderated vs unmoderated
- moderated a researcher guides participants offering insights and real-time feedback
- unmoderated meaning the tasks are completed independently allowing for quicker results
- remote vs in person
- remote is cost-effective and acceptable, e.g. via video calling
- in person which are in controlled environments for deeper observation but these can cost a lot of money.
Usability testing methods
- lab testing takes place in a controlled setting where the user is observed while they perform the tasks. This can be expensive, but you will receive qualitative data
- contextual inquiry which is when the user is observed in their natural environment allowing moderators to see the context and understand their interactions allowing for more authentic insights but this can be disruptive to workplaces.
- guerrilla usability testing which is a way of testing that is is public spaces with random participants which collects diverse feedback but the cons are that there could be distractions
- tree testing accesses the content organisation by evaluation the user navigation through a system.