Usability Testing Fundamentals

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Questions and Answers

What is the purpose of asking participants to read task instructions out loud?

To distract the participant from the task

To make the participant feel more comfortable

To help the researchers with their notetaking (correct)

To ensure the participant understands the task (correct)

Why is it important to have a realistic user of the product or service as a participant?

To ensure the participant is available on short notice

To ensure the participant has a similar background to the target user group (correct)

To ensure the participant has a technical background

To ensure the participant is an expert in the field

What is the purpose of the think-aloud method in usability testing?

To understand participants' opinions about the product

To understand participants' backgrounds and demographics

To understand participants' behaviors, goals, thoughts, and motivations (correct)

To understand participants' technical skills

What type of software is running on the special testing laptop?

Screen-recording software Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the facilitator in a usability test session?

To observe and take notes Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the external monitor in the usability test setup?

To display the screen recording to the facilitator Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the webcam in the usability test setup?

To capture the participant's facial expressions Signup and view all the answers

What are the two types of usability testing?

Qualitative and quantitative Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of qualitative usability testing?

Discovering problems in the user experience Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended number of participants for a typical qualitative usability study of a single user group?

5 Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of remote usability testing over in-person testing?

Less time and money required Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between remote moderated and remote unmoderated usability testing?

Facilitator-participant interaction Signup and view all the answers

What type of usability testing is best for collecting benchmarks?

Quantitative usability testing Signup and view all the answers

What are two common metrics collected in quantitative usability testing?

Task success and time on task Signup and view all the answers

What type of tool is used in remote unmoderated usability testing?

Dedicated online remote-testing tool Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome of remote unmoderated usability testing?

A recording of the session, along with metrics like task success Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Importance of Task Wording

Task wording is crucial in usability testing as small errors can cause misunderstandings and influence participant behavior.
Task instructions can be delivered verbally or in writing and are often read aloud by participants to ensure complete understanding.

Participant Selection

Participants should be realistic users of the product or service being studied, or have similar backgrounds or needs.
Participants are often asked to think aloud during usability testing to understand their behaviors, goals, thoughts, and motivations.

Usability Testing Setup

The participant uses a testing laptop with screen-recording software and a webcam to capture facial expressions.
The facilitator sits separately, observing and taking notes, and asks follow-up questions after each task.

Types of Usability Testing

Qualitative usability testing focuses on collecting insights and anecdotes about user experience, best for discovering problems.
Quantitative usability testing focuses on collecting metrics, such as task success and time on task, best for collecting benchmarks.

Remote vs. In-Person Testing

Remote usability testing is popular due to reduced time and cost requirements.
There are two types of remote testing: moderated (facilitator-participant interaction) and unmoderated (participant completes tasks alone with online tools).
Unmoderated testing uses online tools to deliver task instructions and collect metrics, including task success.

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Description

This quiz covers the basics of usability testing, including the importance of task wording and participant selection. Learn how to ensure accurate results and representative feedback.