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User Testing on a Shoestring May 20, 2014

Tech Tutorial AAM Media & Technology Network

Christina DePaolo, 4Culture Dana Mitroff Silvers, Designing Insights Charlotte Sexton, Independent Consultant

#aam2014user

Introductions Christina DePaolo @tinabean

Dana Mitroff Silvers @dmitroff

Charlotte Sexton @cb_sexton

Today’s program ●  Introduction to user testing ●  Activity #1: develop test scenarios ●  Short break ●  Activity #2: think aloud testing ●  Testing logistics ●  Resources

Goals ●  Understand what user testing is ●  Plan for user testing ●  Try out testing methods

Usability: what + why?

What it’s about It’s not about you. Really. It’s not about what your coworkers want. Seriously.

Then who? It is about the person using it and the experience they have. It should be a good experience.

That’s your bullseye.

Why it’s powerful ●  Gives you an evidence base ●  Helps you solve problems ●  Can resolve conflicts ●  Allows you to prioritize features/resources

Why it’s scalable ●  You don’t have to bring in experts to do it ●  It doesn’t need to cost a lot of money ●  Easy to learn and implement ●  Get big results with a small sample size ●  Ideally iterative

Testing methods

Some testing methods •  Individual think aloud •  Concurrent think aloud

o  Develop test inquiry o  Write test scenario

•  “First impression” tests •  A/B testing •  Card sorting

1. Recruit representative users.

2. Give them representative tasks to perform.

3. Shut up and let the users do the talking.

Golden rules for user testing

Source: Thinking Aloud: The #!1 Usability Tool by Jakob Nielsen

http://www.nngroup.com/articles/thinking-aloud-the-1-usability-tool/

Preparing to test

Developing a test plan What do you want to learn? How can you test it? Who should you test with?

Developing a test plan What do you want to learn? How can you test it? Who should you test with?

Version 1: Test inquiry

“Is our online ticketing easy to use?”

Version 2: Test inquiry “Do users understand that our Chagall exhibition is surcharged and requires timed tickets, and can they successfully complete their ticket purchases?”

Developing a test plan What do you want to learn? How can you test it? Who should you test with?

Version1: Test scenario

“Go buy tickets online.”

Version 2: Test scenario “You heard we have a Chagall exhibition at XYZ Museum. You want to go next Thursday with your toddler and mother. How do you get tickets? Figure out if you need to purchase tickets in advance. Determine the price of everyone’s ticket. Buy your tickets.”

Let’s try it

Planning a test

Develop your test inquiry Write down 3 specific things you want to learn about a digital product or service in your institution.

3 minutes on your own on Post-its

Get a partner + share Review what you want to learn about. ●  Is it specific? ●  Is it measurable? ●  Is it testable?

Revise as needed.

3 minutes each person x 2

Develop your test scenario Select one. Now write a brief scenario you can ask a user to complete during a test.

3 minutes on your own

Share with your partner Share your scenario and get feedback. Revise as needed.

3 minutes each (6 minutes total)

Five-minute break

Think aloud testing

Setting up to test You will need to: ●  Define replicable tasks which fit target

audiences’ needs and motivations ●  Develop a set of ‘open’ questions that won’t

bias answers ●  Find a quiet space to run the test

Running your test ●  Look out for: confusion, error, failure and

success! ●  Keep quiet unless they are completely stuck ●  Record the tests (notes/video/screen capture) ●  Summarize and prioritize the issues identified

Concurrent Think Aloud

1 volunteer facilitator 2 volunteer testers 1 note taker

10 minutes

Reflection First impressions..? Was the test successful in identifying issues? Anything surprise you? Could you apply this method to your own project? How might you improve the tests?

5 minutes

Testing logistics

Steps to prepare for a test •  Identify your target audience •  Recruit users •  Get incentives for test participants •  Handle logistics (space, computers, release

forms) •  Create materials •  Compile and present results (team mtg after

testing)

Recruiting users

Source: Jakob Nielsen, http://www.nngroup.com/articles/why-you-only-need-to-test-with-5-users/

Where do you fit it in? Identify where you can add testing through the project stages:

●  Test your ideas when planning ●  Test your text, images (content development) ●  Test your design (wireframes/design concepts) ●  Test prototype/refine/test/refine/test…. ●  Test specific features/problem areas

Wrapping up

Key take-aways 1. The user is king/queen 2. You can do it! (Even with limited time and

resources) 3. Some testing is better than none 4. The more specific, the better the results 5. Take action based on your findings

Resources Nielsen Norman Group www.nngroup.com/ Usability.gov www.usability.gov Usability Professionals Organization http://www.usabilityprofessionals.org/ Google Ventures Library www.gv.com/library/design/ Measuring Usability www.measuringusability.com/blog.php

Tools for testing Creating Prototypes

Pen & paper! Omnigraffle Balsamiq

Screen Capture/Recording Hypercam Monosnap WebEx

Screen Sharing Google+ video Skype Premium WebEx

Tracking Bugs and Features Jira Pivotal Tracker Asana

Online Testing Services usabilityhub.com usertesting.com userzoom.com loop11.com

Thank you Christina DePaolo @tinabean | christina.depaolo@4culture.org

Dana Mitroff Silvers @dmitroff | dana@designinginsights.com

Charlotte Sexton @cb_sexton | cbsexton.associates@gmail.com

Workshop Evaluation: http://bit.ly/aamtech