UX Unconference | University of Arizona Libraries | December 6th, 2013

Do-it-Yourself

Usability Testing

Rebecca Blakiston

Website Product Manager & Associate Librarian

University of Arizona

@blakistonr

1. Plan

Who am I and

what am I

trying to do on

your website?

Establish

primary tasks.

Test things you

have control

over (mostly).

Write out tasks.

• Find a book based on a topic

• Find open hours

• Find out how much printing costs

Translate tasks into scenarios.

Task Scenario

Find open

hours

You need to drop by the library after

class, find out what time it closes

today.

Find out how

much printing

costs

You need to print a 10-page paper.

How much will this cost you at the

main library?

Gather incentives.

I will take

notes.

I will lead the

testing.

Identify a facilitator and note taker.

Pick a time.

time of day day of week day of month time of year

Pick a place.

Pick a device.

Pick a software (maybe).

Silverback

2. Test

Do you have a

few minutes to

help us improve

our website?

Let them know it’s for a good

cause and won’t take much time.

Introduce the test

• We want to improve the website.

• You can’t do anything wrong.

• Talk out loud, it will help us a lot..

What are you thinking?

What are you looking for?

Facilitate the test.

Keep them talking.

This is very

helpful.

Manage their emotions.

Keep them happy.

I’m feeling

lost…

Oh, crap…

3. Analyze

Don’t freak out.

Don’t blame the user.

Debrief right afterwards.

I was surprised

when…

Focus on

the most

serious

problems.

Focus on the problems

easiest to fix.

What’s the smallest

change we can

make right now to

smooth over this

problem for most

people?

Calendar Event Calendar

Calendar

Keyword Searching Tips

Learn more.

Usability Testing: a

Practical Guide for

Librariansby Rebecca Blakiston

(To be published in

2014)

Rebecca Blakiston

blakistonr@u.library.arizona.edu

@blakistonr

Questions