User Testing 101
User testing is used to validate or test a solution against a demographic who can give you appropriate feedback. You can test a formal or informal solution. It all depends on the stage of the process you’re in.
ASSIGN YOUR ROLES
Testing is a two-person job. Assign one person to be the lead interviewer and one person to be the second interviewer. The lead interviewer is responsible for carrying on the conversation. They should focus on the user. In my experience, the lead interviewer typically comes away with feedback based on the user’s behavior. The second interviewer is responsible for taking recording the data. They should take note of the demographic and user responses.
DEFINE YOUR AUDIENCE
Do you know who you want to test on and where you can find them? If you have the money to source candidates to test on that’s great, but I never have. I define a general idea of what I’m looking for based on my target audience(ex. woman in her 30s or early 40s). If your target audience isn’t closeby or you’re trying to reach a new audience, you might have to look outside the box. One time, I needed to meet high-end shoppers for one of our websites, but they didn’t have a brick and mortar store so we talked to shoppers at Nordstrom.
WRITE YOUR SCRIPT
Start with broad questions that will help speak to demographic info (ex. Do you typically use an iPhone or Android?). Then move into questions specifically related to the problem. Your questions should be written based on the prototype. Write a script of what you want the user to do, once this is finished you can add questions asking about the experience.
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
Talking is hard and letting people review your work (especially preliminary drafts) can feel personal. But it’s more embarrassing when you’re mid-test and the prototype stops working or has a mistake. During this practice time make sure your prototype functions correctly and your questions don’t feel awkward.
GET OUT THERE & TEST!
When you’re new to testing, it always feel awkward. Especially, if you’re conducting a hallway test and have to interrupt random strangers. Be confident and keep things lighthearted. It will be over soon!
REVIEW YOUR NOTES AFTER EACH TEST
Walk away from the user and quickly review the note. Make sure to describe body language and other observations. Refer to Behavioral Observation for suggestions on how to do this.