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By Jim Ross
Published: May 16, 2016
Usability testing can seem deceptively easy. You ask people to perform tasks using a user interface, observe what they do, and ask them questions. Sounds simple, right? In comparison to field studies and other, more advanced user-research methods, usability testing might seem like the simplest technique to learn and perform. Perhaps it’s the repetition of observing multiple participants, performing the same tasks and answering the same questions, that makes usability testing begin to seem routine—like something you could do in your sleep.
However, although usability testing may seem simple and routine, anyone who has conducted a lot of testing can testify about the many problems that can occur. In this column, I’ll discuss some of the biggest mistakes you can make in doing usability testing and how to prevent them. But, first, I’d like to make a distinction between mistakes and problems. Mistakes are preventable, while problems are often beyond your control,—for example, experiencing technical difficulties in the middle of a test session. Everyone makes mistakes—even experienced usability professionals. But reviewing these common mistakes will help you to avoid them.
