Usability Testing
Observe real users completing tasks with your product to identify usability issues, pain points, and opportunities for improvement.
Research Classification
Research Type
Attitudinal Behavioral
Behavioral: Focuses on what people do: their actual behaviors and actions.
Data Type
Qualitative Quantitative
Qualitative: Collects non-numerical data like observations, interviews, and open-ended responses.
Requirements
Budget
mediumModerate investment needed
Timeline
medium2-4 weeks
Team Size
smallWorks with 2-3 people
Research Goals
usability evaluation
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Provides direct observation of user behavior and challenges
- ✓ Identifies specific usability issues with actionable insights
- ✓ Validates or challenges design assumptions with real user data
- ✓ Helps prioritize improvements based on user impact
- ✓ Can be conducted remotely or in-person
Cons
- × Requires careful planning and preparation
- × May need incentives to recruit appropriate participants
- × Artificial testing environment may affect natural user behavior
- × Needs skilled facilitation to avoid biasing participants
- × Findings may require interpretation and synthesis
Use Cases
Example Scenario
Testing a new mobile banking app with actual customers to identify usability issues before launch, focusing on common tasks like checking balances, transferring money, and paying bills.
Additional Applications
- • Testing a checkout flow to identify friction points
- • Evaluating navigation structure for intuitiveness
- • Assessing form completion rates and error patterns
- • Measuring task completion time and success rates
- • Identifying accessibility barriers for users with disabilities