What is Usability Testing?

 

What is Usability Research? In the definition, "Usability Research" is a process of collecting user responses to assist in designing products or services that are capable of meeting expected users' needs and requirements. Typically conducted by a group of usability specialists, it is an empirical study that seeks to document what people do, as opposed to what they should do. There are many reasons for conducting usability testing; these could range from determining whether new software functions work as expected, determining if new software is successful in achieving marketing objectives or finding errors or weaknesses in processes and software components. While usability testing can be tedious, it is one of the best ways to ensure that a product or service that goes into the market meets the intended performance levels.

How Does Usability Research Work? In order to conduct usability testing effectively, the researchers must first establish goals and a methodology. The researchers must then gather a set of test data that will enable them to compare expected and actual end result. Once this data set is generated, the testers can determine what the problem was, determine if there were any improvements needed to the system, and identify any functional deficiencies. The researchers can also look at how users tested the product or service and use that information to help improve future testing.

What Is Involved With A Usability Testing Process? While the actual testing process varies from one testing method to the next, most usability testing processes involve at least two people who perform the testing. These people are typically involved in separate sessions, each running approximately 10 hours. In addition to the two people who perform the testing, certain tasks must be completed in order to make sure the research is accurate and complete. These tasks include collecting the data, doing demographic research, writing reports, discussing the testing results with the users and other stakeholders and preparing and conducting the actual test session.

Who Benefits From What Is Usability Research? One of the biggest benefits to using usability testing is that it helps identify usability problems before they become large problems. When a problem is discovered in the testing process early on, it allows the designer or developer to make necessary changes or adjustments before they are required to take affect on the website. For example, if a person is testing a new website and discovers that the site does not load correctly, it allows the designer to make changes before the site goes live so that it is as perfect as possible. This also allows the designer to fix the problem as soon as possible so that the website does not suffer from negative ramifications due to the flaw.

What Is Usability Research Meant for You? Although it can take a long time to conduct a usability test and to produce good research findings, it can be a valuable way for web developers to get closer to the bottom of how their site loads or functions. It can also help them understand usability problems that may be cropping up with users and provide methods for overcoming these problems before they grow into larger ones. Web developers should always bear in mind that they should always aim to improve the usability of a website no matter how small the improvement may seem to be.

What Is Usability Testing? As you may have guessed, usability testing is a vital part of the entire usability process. It involves a whole lot more than simply asking people to view your website. In order to truly understand the needs and desires of your users, you will have to spend time asking a lot of questions, gathering tons of information and piecing all of this information into an effective usability test. Once you've gathered enough information to produce a usable test, you can then start writing your report.