Product stakeholders see user research as a tool to validate already-made decisions. But binary findings that confirm or reject a design provide little value.
Analyze usability findings for authenticity, consistency, repetition, spontaneity, appropriateness, and confounding factors to separate surface impressions from real insights.
Evidence from usability studies can be more convincing than what you say. Test even if you can easily determine the difference between good and bad designs.
In-person usability testing provides insights remote testing can miss. It offers unique benefits, such as building rapport, observing non-verbal cues, and providing immersive experiences for stakeholders that enhance understanding.
Well-written screeners ensure that your study participants are appropriate for your research goals, improve data quality, save resources, and reduce bias.
Competitive usability evaluations help you understand how your competitors solve certain design problems and how you might outperform them. These evaluations are often performed at the beginning of design projects to shift their direction toward areas of opportunity.
When conducting usability testing with older adults, understand the unique needs of participants in this age group and adjust your test setup and tasks accordingly.
International usability testing examines how people from different regions use products. For successful testing, decide on the format, ensure clear communication despite language barriers, and select a facilitator familiar with the local context.
Users are more tolerant of minor usability issues when they find an interface visually appealing. This aesthetic-usability effect can mask UI problems during usability testing. Identify instances of the aesthetic-usability effect in your user research by watching what your users do, as well as listening to what they say.
