Planning usability tests
It is important to clarify to test participants that in usability tests, the design is being tested--not the participant. Because the feedback on the quality of the experience is provided by multiple people, making sure that all testing sessions conform to a consistent protocol, can be important. That being said, it is OK to have some flexibility in each session, to explore directions of research that was not initially planned for, if the opportunity arises.
There are several reasons testing sessions should be planned:
- Planning ensures that all the important experience questions are covered. If it turns out that there are just too many elements to test, this fact will emerge during planning, and alternatives can be developed--for example, having two or more scripts, each focused on a major experience theme. This revelation might require recruiting more participants, and setting more time for testing.
- Once design questions are identified, appropriate testing scenarios...
