What Is Usability Testing: Definition, Benefits, How-To
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Usability testing helps create intuitive, inclusive digital experiences. Below, we’ll discover the types of usability testing, best practices, and how incorporating accessibility testing ensures products are functional for all users, including those with disabilities.
Most products or services aim to deliver the best possible user experience. Creating this experience is where things get tricky.
Usability testing offers an answer, allowing you to see how real-life users interact with your digital content. You can then use the insights from testing to create user-friendly, intuitive, and inclusive digital experiences.
A critical aspect of usability testing is accessibility — ensuring your product is accessible and usable by all users, including those with disabilities. By incorporating accessibility testing into your usability testing strategy, you can identify barriers that might prevent users from fully engaging with your product, allowing you to create experiences that aren’t just user-friendly but also equitable.
Below, we’ll dive deeper into what usability testing is, discuss the different types of testing methods, and explain how to conduct effective usability testing in your organization.
What is Usability Testing? (And What It’s Not)
Usability testing is, as the name suggests, a way to determine how easy and user-friendly a product is for its intended audience. The process usually involves giving users a task and observing them as they attempt to complete it. The goal behind this approach is to identify where any confusion or pain points exist in your UX design and use those insights to improve the overall experience. Usability testing also looks to determine how functional (or how well) a product works.
The term is often used interchangeably with user testing — but they each have different purposes that significantly influence the design process. For instance, usability testing zeroes in on how easy and intuitive a product is to use while user testing is more broad, encompassing various forms of user feedback about a product.
Think of usability testing as a deep dive into the “how” of user interaction while user testing casts a wider net to capture the “what” and “why” of user experiences. Using them both allows designers or developers to create products that aren’t just functional but resonate with users on a deeper level.
It’s important to understand what usability testing isn’t. It’s not a one-time event or solely about metrics. It should be an ongoing process that’s part of product development so you can continuously improve your products. While usability testing does continuously gather data, focus that data on understanding qualitative insights, like user emotions, frustrations, and feedback.
Different Types of Usability Testing
Usability testing takes on a few different forms, each with its advantages and reasons for using it. The one you choose ultimately depends on what information you want to gather and how you want to use it. Here’s a look into a few different types:
Qualitative Usability Testing
Qualitative testing is the right approach if you want to understand the emotions your users experience when interacting with your product. Some common examples of qualitative testing methods include session recordings, unmoderated usability tests, guerilla usability testing, focus groups, etc. Using these methods gives you a more detailed look into your users’ specific problems, expectations, needs as well as how they feel about the user interface of your product.
Quantitative Usability Testing
To help you gather benchmarks and statistics around your product, go with quantitative testing. This approach involves gathering actual data (or quantitative metrics) from your users and their interactions through A/B testing, card sorting, surveys, or questionnaires. Additionally, the methodology often involves looking at larger sample sizes and metrics like task completion rates, average time spent on a task, and error rates. You can then use the test results to identify usability problems, functionality errors, and more.
Moderated Usability Testing
Moderated usability testing involves a facilitator or moderator who guides your participants through specific tasks and facilitates discussions. This approach allows for real-time interaction, allowing the moderator to probe deeper into user reactions, clarify tasks, and address confusion. Moderated testing is ideal if you want nuanced feedback around your product or a deeper understanding of user motivations.
Unmoderated Usability Testing
Unlike moderated usability testing, where users are guided through specific tasks, unmoderated usability testing allows participants to complete tasks on their own. The test (or tests) are created beforehand, and users can complete them in their natural environment, which can lead to more authentic interactions.
Remote Usability Testing
As the name suggests, remote usability testing occurs entirely online, allowing users to engage with your product from their locations. You can take either a moderated or unmoderated approach. This type of testing also offers users the flexibility to schedule testing on their own time and allows you to reach a more diverse range of users.
In-Person Usability Testing
Finally, in-person usability testing involves direct interaction between your users and facilitators in a controlled environment. The approach lets you closely observe user behavior and gather immediate feedback, giving you a rich understanding of user experiences.
Why Do You Need Usability Testing?
From helping you understand how users feel about your product to finding and fixing complexities, conducting usability testing allows you to optimize products for your target audience. Some additional benefits of usability testing include:
Fewer Mistakes = Lower Costs
Usability testing helps you find mistakes early in your product design processes. Think about it this way: every bug or design flaw you identify before launch saves you time and money down the line. Putting your product in front of actual users allows you to uncover issues that might not be visible to your team. Fixing those problems before they go live not only minimizes rework but also helps you lower costs.
Tailor to Your Target Users
Usability testing isn’t just about identifying problems — it’s the perfect opportunity to get to know your user base better. By observing how your audience interacts with your product, you gain invaluable insights into their needs, expectations, and user satisfaction rates. You can then take those insights and tailor your product to them, creating a more personalized experience that resonates with your audience.
Make Your Content Accessible
Accessibility is more than just a buzzword; it's essential for reaching a wider audience — one that controls $13 trillion in spending power worldwide. Testing how people with disabilities use and interact with your product helps you identify accessibility issues that negatively impact the user experience. Finding and fixing these issues not only demonstrates social responsibility but also expands your audience reach.
Identify Complexities
What seems intuitive to your team may not be so clear to your users. Usability evaluation helps uncover those hidden complexities and gives you a fresh perspective on ease of use. By gathering feedback directly from users, you can identify pain points and streamline your design, making it more user-friendly. This ultimately allows you to create a smoother journey for users and ensure they can navigate your product without unnecessary hurdles.
When Should You Do Usability Testing?
One thing to remember about usability testing: it’s not a one-and-done process. It should be integrated into your development process at a few stages, including:
- Early concept stage: Seeing how users interact with wireframes or early prototypes can help you validate your ideas, identify potential issues, and make informed decisions before development starts.
- During development: Usability tests during the development stage are arguably the most important. They help you determine how real users interact with your new product as it's being developed. Repeat tests help you catch usability issues early, ensuring a smoother final product.
- Pre-launch: This “final” round of testing can help you uncover any last-minute issues and confirm your product is ready for your audience.
- Post-launch: Post-launch testing can help you understand how real users interact with your product in the real world and identify areas for improvement.
- After major updates: Any time you introduce significant changes or new features, usability testing can help ensure the changes enhance the user experience rather than complicate it. This is especially important in ensuring your product remains accessible for individuals with disabilities.
Usability Testing: A Step-by-Step Guide
Now that you understand the benefits of usability testing, let’s discuss how to conduct effective usability tests.
Identify Goals and Target Audiences
Before you start usability testing, you need to know what you’re testing for and for what audience. What specific aspects of the user experience do you want to evaluate? Are you testing navigation? Task completion? Overall satisfaction? Accessibility?
From here, identify your target audience. Who’s using your product? What are their demographics? Behaviors or preferences? Defining these personas will help you gather relevant insights from the right people that you can then use to improve your product.
Establish Criteria for Testing
Evaluation criteria are crucial to measuring your product's effectiveness. Consider measuring things like task success rate, time on tasks, user errors, and satisfaction ratings. These metrics give you a framework for analyzing your results.
Be sure your metrics align with goals and that you are clear about what constitutes success for each one. This will help you focus on what truly matters and make informed decisions based on user data.
Choose Testing Tools
The right tool is key to effective usability testing. Consider using a combination of tools that can handle different aspects of the testing process. For example, using AudioEye for accessibility testing helps you determine if your product is usable by individuals with disabilities. A tool like Lookback can help you test user journeys through screen recordings and identify barriers.
Create a Usability Testing Script
A well-structured usability testing script keeps your testing sessions organized and focused. Start by outlining the tasks you want participants to complete along with any introductory or closing questions. Using a script helps you create a consistent testing environment, making your data more consistent and reliable. Be sure to include open-ended questions to encourage users to share feedback throughout the process.
Run a Pilot Test
Before conducting actual usability tests, run a pilot test with a smaller group of users. A trial test helps you find any issues with your script, tasks, tools, or data and make necessary adjustments. Think of it as an opportunity to refine the process and ensure everything runs smoothly during actual sessions, increasing the quality of your results.
Find Test Participants
Next, you’ll need to find the right people for your usability test. Think about your target audience and recruit participants who match those personas, as this will help you gather more meaningful feedback. Consider using social media, user testing platforms, or your own customer base to find testers. Aim for a diverse group to ensure you get a wide range of perspectives, as this will enrich your data and insights. Don’t forget to include individuals with disabilities in your testing group.
Run the Usability Test
Before you run usability tests, create a comfortable environment for participants. Once the test starts, encourage participants to share feedback as they perform tasks. That qualitative feedback is invaluable for understanding their experiences. Take notes, record sessions (with user permission), and pay attention to non-verbal cues to get a complete picture of user interactions.
Analyze Data
After the test has concluded, look at the data. Review both qualitative metrics (like task completion rates) and quantitative feedback (participant comments and observations). Look for patterns, pain points, areas for improvement, and highlights. The analysis will inform your design or development decisions and help you prioritize changes based on user feedback.
Rinse and Repeat
Remember, usability testing isn’t a one-time event — it’s an ongoing process. After you’ve made improvements based on your findings, conduct follow-up tests to evaluate the effectiveness of your changes. By performing regular usability testing, you ensure your product is aligned with user needs and enhances their experience.
How AudioEye Simplifies Usability Testing
As we mentioned above, usability testing and accessibility are intricately connected. Both aim to help you create products that are intuitive and user-friendly for all individuals.
AudioEye simplifies accessibility testing via our Accessibility Platform. By combining automation and human-assisted AI technology, AudioEye automates the complex process of identifying and fixing digital accessibility issues. With our three-pronged approach to accessibility, you’ll gain peace of mind knowing your product is usable and accessible — even as it grows and changes.
Ready to get started with accessibility testing? Use our free Web Accessibility Scanner to scan your digital content for common accessibility issues.
Want to see what more AudioEye can do? Schedule a demo today.
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