Usability testingMaking it fast, good, and cheap

Whitney QuesenberyCenter for Civic Design

@civicdesign | @whitneyq

#DotGovDesignConf

27 March 2015

What can you learn

from a usability test?

And how you can make it a

useful part of your work.

Do you think this is usability testing?

Photo: www.unic.com

Usability testing can also look like this

Photos: UXBlog.com

What makes it a

usability test?

We observe people's behavior

Quietly

And use the results to inform

design

What do you want to learn?

Do people understand

how to fill in a form?

Qualitative

relationship

mental models

context of use

but also

how many people have

different understandings

Which design helps people

fill in the form accurately?

Quantitative

how many like each

number of errors

severity of errors

but also

insights into the source and

nature of the errors

The recipe for a usability test

Location and context formal informal

Participants defined opportunistic

Technology yours theirs

Activities instructed tasks free tasks

Goals usable useful

Results quantitative qualitative

Location: Go where the people are

Participants: How will you find them

Convenience

Purposeful

Quota

Participants: Not just demographics

Attitude(motivation, emotion, persistence,

optimism, tolerance for frustration)

Aptitude

(knowledge, expertise, habits, skills)

Ability

(physical and cognitive attributes)

http://www.slideshare.net/danachisnell/character-creator

Asssistive Technology: Refreshable Braille, mouth stick, screen reader, magnifier, iPad (Glenda Watson Hyatt

Technology: Diversity of devices

Tasks: Think about the 5 Es

Effective

Efficient

Engaging

Error-tolerant

Easy to learn

and don't forget delight

Let's talk

What are you working on?

What do you want to learn

about usability?

Planning a

usability program

Look for balance

Look for balance

Think about cadence

Seeing the Elephant: Defragmenting User Research by Lou Rosenfeldhttp://alistapart.com/article/seeing-the-elephant-defragmenting-user-research

Rocket Surgery

First Fridays @ DigitalGov

3 participants; 35 minute sessions

Debrief over lunch to identify the 3 most serious problems

Site stakeholders agree in advance to work on recommendations within one month.

www.digitalgov.gov/resources/digitalgov-user-experience-program/www.sensible.com/rsme.html

What about the Paperwork Reduction Act?

https://www.digitalgov.gov/files/2014/01/PRAPrimer_04072010-2.pdf

Fast Track Clearance for PRA

When the data collection

Is focus on improving services

Is voluntary

Does not require statical rigor

Does not put high burden on

participants

Will not be published as quantitative,

generalizable data

http://www.digitalgov.gov/resources/digitalgov-user-experience-program/digitalgov-user-experience-program-usability-starter-kit/

Take any opportunity for a quick

usability observation

The next time someone asks you a question about your site, ask them to use it instead.

Watch as they try to find the information.

Just do it

Fast – small, frequent

Good – insights you need

Cheap –informal methods

Get in touch!

Whitney Quesenbery

whitneyq@civicdesign.org

@whitneyq

civicdesign.org

@civicdesign