Chapter 10: Usability Testing: The movie
HOW TO DO YOUR OWN TESTING
What to do if you're the facilitator
- Try the test yourself first
- Protect the participants
- Be empathetic
- Try to see the thought balloons forming over their heads
- "What are you looking at?"
- "What are you thinking?"
- Don't give them hints about what to do
- "What do you think we should do?"
- Keep your instructions simple
- "Look around the page and tell me what you think everything is and what you would be likely to click on."
- "Tell me what you would click and what you expect you would see then."
- "Try to think out loud as much as possible.
- Probe, probe, probe
- Don't be afraid to improvise
- Don't be disappointed if a user turns out to be inexperienced or completely befuddled
- Make some notes after each session
What to do if you're observing
- Look for:
- Do the get it?
- Can they find their way around?
- Head slappers (EX: "Why didn't we think of that?")
- Shocks (EX: "How could she not notice that?")
- Inspiration/User suggestions
- Passion (EX: "This is exactly what I've been looking for")
- Keep track of little glitches but don't let them distract you
Things to keep in mind
- Brace Yourself
- Don't Panic
- Be Quiet
- Brace Yourself
- Remember that you're grading on a curve
- Remember that you're seeing their best behavior
- Pay more attention to actions and explanations than opinions
