What are the six types of usability tests?
The six most common types of usability tests are:
- A/B Testing: Also known as split-testing, this is when you see how two pages perform compared to each other.Despite its name, some businesses will sometimes test three or more ads, pages, etc. simultaneously.
- Tree Testing: This is where you determine how easy or difficult it is to find different aspects within your website/app. It’s used for UX primarily, whereas A/B testing can be about UX and user engagement.
- Card Sorting: With card sorting, you categorize information based on what users interact with.
- Contextual Inquiry: Users will navigate a website and mention what they are doing at the same time, and why.You should then use this information to determine how to adjust your website layout.
- Usability Inspection: Observe your site/app/product analytics to see what users are interacting with. You can then use this data to draw conclusions; usability inspection is normally used with other usability testing methods.
- Heuristic Evaluation: Here, you’ll utilize general rules and determine whether your current interface meets these standards.
All types of usability testing have their own unique focus, and there is no single best type. As a result, it’s important that you understand how to use all of them. You should also know when to use each one.
• Understand your project objectives and make sure that you know what resources are at your disposal. For larger projects, you may need to test more frequently.
Which method is a common practice in usability testing?
One common usability testing method is A/B testing. It’s typically used to compare different designs at the same time, and it can also be used for judging which assets (e.g. copy and graphics) are more or less effective. It’s used on websites, apps, social media, and in other environments.
Whereas some usability testing is more specific with who it targets, A/B testing tends to be more random. Once you have the information you need, you will then compare your results to one another. After doing this, it’s important that you then go in and make further changes where required.
For information architecture, you should use card sorting or tree testing instead.
What are the challenges or limitations of usability testing?
There are numerous things that you need to understand when it comes to usability testing.
- Time: If you decide to do manual usability testing, you should allocate enough time to the process.
- Resources: Make sure you have the resources for usability testing. If you’re new to business and have limited technical expertise, partnering with a website builder that does usability testing (e.g. Hocoos) is something to consider.
- Avoiding Biases: It’s vital that you perform objective tests, which is why you should consider leveraging technology instead of relying entirely on human judgement.
- Recruiting: For larger projects, you will probably need more personnel and to implement more comprehensive tests. It’s also important that you know how to analyze your data and then make changes based on this.
- User Feedback: Look at your user feedback from a rational perspective.
Besides hiring professional moderators, you may also want to perform tests remotely. It’s very important that your data is as accurate as it can possibly be.
What type of data does usability testing typically generate?
The type of data you get will depend on your usability testing method. However, some common links are information about user information and both qualitative/quantitative data.
When performing usability tests, you should also see metrics like engagement rates. Clarity around where customers are more likely to click is essential for understanding their behavior and optimizing the user experience.
Once you’ve collected your information, make sure that you know what your current user satisfaction rates are. It’s also important that you quickly patch issues based on what you find. Moreover, you’ll need to consult your design team to determine where you may need to adjust your app/website.
Alternative:
Heatmaps are sometimes used on websites and apps to record what users do when they browse your services. By doing this, you will see where you may need to make adjustments more clearly.
What are the best practices of usability testing?
Besides understanding the technical aspects of usability testing, you will also need to think about the main practices that you should adhere to. These include:
- User Representation: The users you recruit should be your target audience.
- Tasks: Make it clear what needs to be done.
- Observations: Make clear observations throughout your testing and keep important notes.
- Balance: You need to measure data from a rational standpoint.
- Iteration: Once you’ve collected your data, start making the required changes.
To guarantee the quality of your findings, it’s prudent to heed these recommendations.
Conclusion
Usability testing is one of the most important things to consider when designing an app, website, or product. Iterating on your results is also important; since all of this requires significant resources and technical expertise, you should consider using site builders and other tools that do it for you.
Understanding the different types of usability testing is vital, and you should also know how to utilize them together. Ensure that you perform your tests throughout the building/development cycle and not just when you’ve finished; iteration once you’ve gone live is also important.
