What is USABILITY and why should I care? Adriana Corona, Senior Experience Designer User Experience...

What is USABILITY and

why should I care?Adriana Corona, Senior Experience DesignerUser Experience & Web Services @Yale [email protected]

MARCH 11, 2014 • YaleSites DrupalCamp

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USABILITY The extent to which something is easy to use for an intended audience

USABILITY TESTING

Observing someone use what you’ve made with the aim of improving usability

DISCOUNT USABILITY TESTING

Usability testing on a budget, with just as many benefits

Why should you care?• Better serve your users• Less frustration• More satisfaction• Cost effective, quick & easy

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123456

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It always works!When to testWhom to testWhat to testHow to testAnd now what?

Demo

AGENDA

It always works!

• You’re too “close” to your design• No website is perfect• Biggest problems are usually the

easiest to find

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5

When to test2

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When to test2

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As early as possible(Before you think you should)

But… but.. It’s not ready!!!

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Even better!

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TESTING on Day 0

‘back-of-the-napkin usability test’

Hours spent: 0.25

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TESTING on Day 30

Hours spent: 40

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TESTING on Day 120

Hours spent: 160

When to test2

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As early as possible(Before you think you should)

or…

Now!

Whom to test3

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Users unfamiliar with your site

Don’t worry too much about “representative users” for initial tests

3 – 5 users per test

Why 3 – 5?

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Biggest problems are usually the easiest to find

• Will be found by most people• Will prevent them from finding other

problems

Usability problems on your site*

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* adapted from Steve Krug’s

“Don’t Make me Think”

(2006, p. 139)

One Test8 Users

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Total Problems found: 5

Two Tests3 Users per test

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First test3 Users

Problems found: 3


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Second test3 Users

Problems found: 5


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Total Problems found: 8

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More evidence-based answer from the Nielsen Norman Group

http://www.nngroup.com/articles/how-many-test-users/

Why 3 – 5?

http://www.nngroup.com/articles/how-many-test-users/

What to test4

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ImpressionsWhat do they think the site is about?What do they think they can do here?

Goal-based TasksIs the user successful in doing the

task?Were there confusing steps?Do they understand the terminology?

How to test

1. Choose goal-based tasks2. Write scenarios3. Find a location and 3 participants4. Practice a script5. Test!

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What should a user be able to do on this site? (Why are they here?)_______________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ _______________

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1. Choose Goal-based Tasks

Task: Find Yale bikeshare locations.

Scenario:

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2. Write Scenarios

You are a Yale employee working at 55 Whitney Ave. You’ve decided to be healthier and more ‘green,’ and your coworker told you about Yale’s bike rentals and suggested you find one nearby. Find out if there are Yale bikes near your work.


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1 Provides context

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2 Goal-based task

No leading or domain-specific terms.Don’t say “bikeshare” or “Zagster”

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3. Find a Location & Participants

• Stake out where your users are• Print flyers• Ask your friends and neighbors• Offer incentives

Write your own, or use a template: e.g., http://sensible.com/

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4. Practice a script

• We want to see if our site works well for users. It should take about __ minutes

• We are testing the site, and not you! Don’t worry if you make any mistakes, we’re hear to learn from your experience

• You won’t hurt our feelings, our aim is to improve the site.• Please try to think out loud as you do the tasks• Ask me if you have questions, but understand that I may

not answer them immediately because we’re trying to see how people use the site on their own

• We are recording the session. Only our team will see this recording (Consent form)

• We want to see if our site works well for users. It should take about __ minutes

• We are testing the site, and not you! Don’t worry if you make any mistakes, we’re hear to learn from your experience

• You won’t hurt our feelings, our aim is to improve the site.• Please try to think out loud as you do the tasks• Ask me if you have questions, but understand that I may

not answer them immediately because we’re trying to see how people use the site on their own

• We are recording the session. Only our team will see this recording (Consent form)

http://sensible.com/

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5. Test!• Have a bookmark of your site• Prepare screen capture software• Have scenarios in different cards• Read script, sign consent form if needed• Start screen recorder• Open your site• Start with impression test

“Tell me what you think this site is for? What things can you do here? Don’t click on things yet, just narrate your thoughts”

• Run through the scenarios• Thank them. Give incentive• Stop screen recorder

Don’t take notes

!

And now what?6

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List the 3 most critical usability problems

Try to fix them!

Rinse & repeat

What is USABILITY and why should I care? Adriana Corona, Senior Experience Designer User Experience...

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