Usability testing is the process of determining and evaluating the ease with which a product can be used by conducting tests with potential users.
FREMONT, CA: Usability testing is a critical component of the user experience design process. A better user experience enhances their overall experience on the website and increases the customer’s Lifetime Value (LTV).
Below are the popular methods of usability testing:
Hallway usability testing or Random testing: Hallway usability testing technique uses the experience of users who have not been trained for testing. As an alternative to trained staff, random users can effectively identify a website’s usability flaws. Compared to a group of random people willing to test for free, skilled testing gurus are expensive.
Expert usability testing: Usability testing experts can evaluate and review the site and generate detailed reports on the issue. Whether conducted remotely or at the testing facility, the testing can be performed at varying penetration levels, depending on the budget and the testing facility’s flexibility.
Controlled experiment testing: This method employs two groups of testers: a control group and an experimental group. The focus is on the control group, which performs specific tasks with, for example, a website’s interface. Two teams make a comparison of two distinct structures or models. Experts compare the results and make judgments that aid in the improvement of a website’s usability testing.
Complicated and precise, the method is based on fundamental scientific principles for determining the properties of any given object.
Interviews and Questionnaires: Questionnaires and interviews enable one to ask numerous questions and receive detailed responses in a matter of seconds. This method of usability testing is advantageous when a large number of opinions are required. Direct questions asked of users during an interview help eliminate ambiguity, whereas questionnaires provide structured data.
Drawings on paper: This method is a favorite among designers and software developers due to its low cost and high effectiveness. They create paper prototypes and allow users to identify and test controls, bars, and sliders. This website’s usability testing method occurs before the actual coding and enables designers to gather feedback on prototypes quickly.
Remote website usability testing: Almost any piece of software can be remotely tested across multiple countries and time zones. Websites are no exception: they can be tested in various ways from the comfort of their own homes. Developers collect data with the assistance of specialized software that is capable of analyzing that critical information. The remote nature of this activity eliminates the stress factor that typically dominates laboratory conditions and enables developers to gain valuable insights into the UI/UX of a website.
Realistic testing scripts and scenarios: This method requires developers to independently approach testers and walk through a pre-planned strategy. They imitate everyday users, attempting to replicate the anticipated actions of a user. Following that, developers try to assess and interpret the data they receive to improve their websites’ usability testing.
