Usability Testing-is it really necessary?
How many times have you heard test early and test often? Some may have heard this phrase used frequently. User testing is one of the final steps in the design thinking process. Testing is when real users test a product. How well does the design work? Have our assumptions aligned with user goals? Have our assumptions been validated? User testing and research can come in many forms. Testing includes phone interviews, card sorting, eye tracking, and usability testing. Usability testing refers to evaluating a product or service by testing it with representative users. Typically, during a test, participants will try to complete typical tasks while observers watch, listen, and takes notes.
Some main points I continually read or hear about with testing includes the following:
- Design is an iterative process.
- Do not skip testing, even though it is tempting to do so because of budget and time constraints.
- Perform testing thought out the entire process from sketch prototypes to wireframes to end solution.
- Gather as much feedback as you can as early as possible in the process.
- It saves money, in the long run, the earlier you discover a problem.
These points are all valid and the main reasons to conduct usability testing. It is important to find all the problems, pain points, and satisfaction target users have before coming to the final development stages. Designer and developers can not rely on assumptions alone, and the business aspects of a project is a primary cause for concern.
Some type of testing or guerilla testing is better than no testing at all. Guerrilla testing (also known as hallway usability testing) is a relatively fast and informal way to test ideas, to get high-level feedback, and potentially uncover user experience problems. There is no substitute for formal testing, but guerrilla testing is cheaper and conducted almost anywhere, including coffee shops, the mall, or the street. Testing sessions last about 10 minutes, and it is preferable to have about 8 to 10 users.
Now that we have determined that usability testing is an integral part of the design process, it is essential to be well prepared for testing. Have a clear testing plan and precise criteria of the users needed for testing or recruiting participants. Define the scope of what you would like to test and create a script. A particular project might have many aspects or features, and so the range could be quite broad. It is essential to narrow down what you wish to test, or things could become too large to manage.
