Watching users try to accomplish tasks on your site is the most effective and efficient way to uncover usability problems. This course will empower you to conduct quick and cheap usability tests throughout the project lifecycle. You will learn how to facilitate sessions, develop test plans, analyze data, and present the findings.

This course is ideal for people who are new to user testing or have some user testing experience, but no formal training.

Benefits

• Learn how to set up and conduct your own studies, so you can do them anytime, anywhere
• Fine-tune your skills with expert guidance
• Take home sample study plans and research materials to help you conduct your own studies

Topics covered

• Basics of user testing
  • Quantitative vs. qualitative studies
  • Discount usability testing: Why only five participants?
• Measuring usability
• Determining scope of study
• Writing good tasks
  • Exploratory and directed tasks
  • Task logistics: Order, number, timing
• Recruitment: User profiles, recruiting agencies, and incentives
• Setting up user studies
  • Formal vs. informal labs
  • Mobile testing
• Recording observations and data
  • Tools and techniques
  • What to look for and record
• Facilitation techniques
  • Getting participants to think aloud as they complete tasks
  • Minimizing bias
• Including and managing observers
• Note taking
• Analyzing findings
• Reports for usability studies
  • Items to include in reports
  • Informal and formal reports
• Presenting findings
  • Effective ways to communicate recommendations
  • Persuasive illustrations and videos
• Tracking usability findings

Format

You will practice planning, conducting, and analyzing  your own usability study during this workshop and receive immediate expert feedback. Lecture segments introduce topics and techniques.

This course also includes:

• A live demonstration of usability testing
• Videos depicting what to do and what not to do
• Hands-on exercises practicing task writing, facilitation, note taking, and analyzing findings

Bonus Material

• Sample documents: Test script, test plan, recruitment screener, and usability report
• Criteria for evaluating the validity of user testing tasks
• Nielsen Norman Group reports on recruiting participants and conducting user testing
  • Report: How to Conduct Usability Studies
  • Report: How to Recruit Participants for Usability Studies