Usability Testing | What it is ,Benefits, Types, and Examples

Usability testing is all about ensuring that your product is easy to use and meets the needs of the people who will use it. This blog post will review the basics of usability tests, their importance, and how they can help you improve your product along with real-life usability test examples. We’ll discuss everything from usability testing to the different methods and tools you can use for it. So, let’s dive in!

What is Usability testing?

Usability testing is an essential component of software development. The process involves testing a product with real users to identify design, functionality, and user experience issues, thus, cannot be automated fully. The feedback received from the rounds of usability tests is used to improve the product. Thus, it is ensured that the product meets the needs and expectations of its intended audience. While some aspects of usability tests can be automated, such as data collection and analysis, testing must be conducted with human input.

However, automation can be beneficial after the initial rounds of usability testing. For example, certain test cases may emerge that can be automated to save time and resources for the team. By using test automation tools like Testsigma, these test cases can be automated and integrated into the software development cycle. Here is an interesting blog where you can check about Mobile Usability Testing.

What is Not Considered Usability Testing?

Usability testing is a valuable tool for improving user experience, but it’s important to understand what it isn’t:

1. A one-time event:  Effective usability testing is an iterative process, conducted throughout the development cycle to continuously refine the product based on user feedback.

2. A popularity contest: The goal isn’t to get users to like or dislike the product but to understand how they interact with it and identify areas for improvement.

3. A substitute for user research: While usability testing provides insights into how users interact with a product, it doesn’t tell you why they might need it or what their broader expectations are.

4. A guarantee of perfection: No product will be perfect for every user, but usability testing helps minimize flaws and identify issues that impact the majority.

5. Just about technical testing: While technical functionality is important, usability testing focuses on the user’s perspective and how effectively they can achieve their goals, not just whether the product technically works.

6. Only for experts: Anyone can conduct usability testing, although experience and training can lead to more efficient and insightful sessions.

7. Just about software: Usability testing is relevant to any product or service users interact with, from websites and apps to physical products and interfaces.

Why is Usability Testing Necessary?

Hey, do you know it is necessary to ensure your creation is user-friendly and efficient? Here are some key reasons why:

1. Improved User Experience: Usability testing allows designers to gain insight into how real users interact with their products, identifying pain points and areas for improvement. This enables them to create intuitive, user-friendly experiences that enhance satisfaction and engagement.
2. Reduced Development Costs: Testing prototypes early on can identify and address usability issues before they become costly design changes.
3. Increased Conversion Rates: An easy-to-use product, website, or application is more likely to convert leads into customers or clients.
4. Better Brand Perception: A positive user experience helps build brand loyalty and improve customer retention rates.
5. Competitive Advantage: Products with a higher level of usability have a competitive edge in the market, setting them apart from products with poor usability.

In conclusion, investing time and resources into usability testing is essential in creating successful products that deliver an optimal user experience while adding value to your brand.

What is the Purpose of Usability Testing?

Usability testing aims to evaluate how easy and intuitive a product or service is for its target audience. It identifies areas for improvement in the user interface, functionality, and overall user experience. 

By observing real users interact with the product, you can gain valuable insights into their needs, frustrations, and expectations.

When Should You Do Usability Testing?

• Early and often throughout the development process: Identify problems early and save time and money on rework.
• Before launch: Ensure a smooth user experience from the start.
• After major updates: Verify new features are user-friendly and don’t break existing functionality.

When to Automate Your Usability Tests?

The simple answer is that only some aspects of usability tests can be automated. Those include tracking user behavior and collecting data; the testing process cannot be fully automated, as that requires human observation and interaction to understand the user experience and gather feedback.

That said, once usability testing is done, some test cases do emerge that will have to be executed frequently to avoid regressions in the subsequent releases. These test cases become perfect candidates for test automation.

Types of Usability Testing

There are four types of usability tests, each serving a specific purpose in evaluating and improving product usability.

Explorative Testing

Explorative Usability Test is a method of evaluating the usability of a product or service. Sometimes it is called Formative testing. It involves the user interacting with the product to understand its features and how they work. This type of testing can help identify potential problems in the user experience before they become an issue. It also provides insights into how users interact with a product, which can be used to improve design and functionality. Explorative Usability Testing allows companies to gain valuable customer feedback, enabling them to create better products that meet their needs. This type of testing is essential for ensuring that products are intuitive and easy to use, providing an optimal user experience.

Comparative Testing

Comparative Usability Test is a method of evaluating user experience by comparing the usability of different products or versions of the same product. It is usually done by having a group of users complete tasks using both products and then analyzing which performed better in user experience. This technique is used to identify areas where one product outperforms the other and thereby prioritize improvements. It also helps to understand user preferences and behaviors, which can be useful for making decisions about design changes or new features. Comparative Usability Testing can assess a wide range of products from websites, mobile apps, software applications, physical products, etc.

Assessment Testing

Assessment testing is an important part of usability tests, as it provides feedback on how intuitively users can use the product or service and what areas need improvement. Assessment tests evaluate user performance regarding time, accuracy, and task completion rate. The results of these tests can be used to identify areas where improvements can be made to optimize user experience.

Validation Testing

This type of testing happens at the end of product development. Validation usability tests helps to identify any issues or roadblocks that could hinder the overall user experience. To conduct effective validation usability testing, it’s essential to clearly understand the target audience, user needs, and use cases. Furthermore, results must be analyzed thoroughly by the team, and the team must make any necessary changes before the final release to ensure optimal usability for end users.

Phases of Usability Testing

Usability testing typically involves four main phases:

1. Planning:

• Define goals and objectives: What do you want to learn from the test?
• Recruit participants: Choose users who represent your target audience.
• Design tasks and scenarios: Create realistic tasks for users to complete.
• Select testing methods: Choose which techniques (moderated, unmoderated, etc.) you’ll use.
• Prepare your testing environment: Set up the platform or environment where users will interact with the product.

2. Conducting:

• Introduce the test and participants: Explain the study’s purpose and set expectations.
• Observe users completing tasks: Watch users interact with the product and take notes.
• Ask open-ended questions: Encourage users to share their thoughts and feelings.
• Record the session: Capture user interactions for later analysis.
• Handle technical issues: Be prepared to troubleshoot any problems that arise.

3. Analyzing:

• Review recordings and notes: Identify patterns and recurring issues.
• Analyze quantitative data (e.g., success rates, error messages): Look for quantitative evidence of usability problems.
• Summarize findings: Create a clear and concise report highlighting key observations and recommendations.
• Prioritize issues: Focus on the most impactful problems to address first.

4. Reporting and Action:

• Share findings with stakeholders: Present your results to the team responsible for making changes.
• Discuss potential solutions: Brainstorm ways to address the identified usability issues.
• Prioritize improvements: Determine which problems to tackle first and develop action plans.
• Follow up and monitor progress: Track the implementation of solutions and continue testing to ensure effectiveness.

These phases are flexible and can be adapted depending on the project and testing goals. Some projects may require additional phases, such as recruiting a pilot group for pre-testing or conducting follow-up testing after implementing changes.

Methods of Usability Testing

Usability testing offers a diverse toolbox of techniques, each with strengths and weaknesses. Choosing the right one depends on your goals, resources, and project stage. Here’s a breakdown of some popular methods:

Moderated Testing:

• Lab usability testing: Users interact with the product in a controlled environment while a moderator observes and asks questions. Ideal for in-depth insights and complex tasks.
• Remote moderated testing: Users test from their locations while a moderator guides them via video conferencing. Cost-effective and good for reaching geographically dispersed audiences. Check here – Remote Usability Testing

Unmoderated Testing:

• Card sorting: Users categorize topics or features, revealing their mental models and information architecture preferences. Useful for early-stage design and content organization.
• Tree testing: Users navigate through a hierarchical structure of content, identifying any usability issues with the website or app’s information architecture.
• Clickstream analysis: Records users’ online interactions, revealing their browsing behavior and potential pain points. Useful for identifying hidden trends and optimizing navigation flow.

Eye tracking: 

• Tracks users’ eye movements to understand where they focus their attention, revealing areas of interest or confusion on interfaces.

A/B testing:

• Compares two versions of a website or app feature to see which performs better with users. Useful for data-driven decision-making on design elements and functionality.

Guerrilla testing: 

• Quick and informal tests with readily available participants, like colleagues or friends, to get initial feedback on early prototypes.

Takeaway tips:

• Each method has its limitations. Combine techniques for a more comprehensive picture.
• Choose techniques that align with your testing goals and target audience.
• Prioritize user-friendliness and avoid making users feel judged during testing.
• Analyze results objectively and translate findings into actionable insights for improvement.

Pros and Cons of Usability Testing

First, let us look into the Pros:

Pros:

• Early detection of usability issues saves time and money.
• Improved user experience leads to higher satisfaction and conversion rates.
• Reduced support costs due to clearer interfaces and instructions.

Cons:

• It can be time-consuming and expensive, especially with large numbers of users.
• Finding representative users can be challenging.
• It may only uncover some edge cases or complex user scenarios.

How Do We Do Usability Testing?

• Recruit participants: Choose users who represent your target audience.
• Develop tasks and scenarios: Define specific goals users should achieve.
• Moderate the testing session: Observe users interacting with the product and ask questions.
• Analyze the results: Identify common issues and areas for improvement.
• Make changes and iterate: Based on findings, refine the product and conduct further testing.

Checklist for Creating a Usability Testing Plan

A good test plan for usability testing can help complete the testing phase smoothly and efficiently without worrying about backtracking due to wrong choices. A few simple steps followed in the same sequence can help in this.

Define the objectives

An objective is an extremely important part of not only usability testing but any other type as well because it gives direction to the subsequent processes. Objectives define goals and what the tester intends to get out of this testing phase.

Define target audience

This step requires the team to define the target audience. This is based on the objectives declared above. A simple example of the target audience can be stating the minimum and maximum age for the testing.

Define an outlined plan

Once the objective is clear, the team can chalk out a usability testing plan with careful consideration of the team’s skills and target audience. The plan should contain all the necessary information that the testers think they will require during subsequent processes and will give a brief idea about what’s about to happen to anyone who reads this document.

Select a tool

The next step in this checklist is to select a perfect tool for usability testing. The type of tool depends on the objectives, goals, and target audience. This is an important step as if the tool doesn’t align with the objectives, it may miss out on a lot of required data for analysis.

Decide the testing style

Usability testing is open and there are no strict categories to choose from. However, the type of usability testing style a team has to follow will impact the generated data as well. For instance, if the testing is done under the supervision of the tester, the Hawthorne effect may come into play and the tester should be prepared for such drawbacks for whatever style they use. 

Define clear tasks

End-users are not technically sound. Hence, if we do not explicitly convey to them the tasks we want them to complete, they may either not complete them or take too much time. Therefore, the team should have clear tasks already defined before usability testing is commenced. This also helps in getting the correct data in the shortest time.

Define analysis parameters and metrics

The tasks defined above are for the users to perform actions on the application. However, many metrics are finalized by analyzing the behavior and patterns of the users without letting them know about it. For instance, how much time they took to perform an action. Which things did they discover first, etc

Analyze results

Once usability testing is completed, a good setup is required to analyze the results. This could consist of software, tools, frameworks, resources, etc. All this should be already set up before usability testing starts for an efficient analysis cycle.

Develop a usability test report

The next step in usability testing is to generate a report that will solely represent test cases and their performance. This is a bit tricky part because a usability test report should have all the elements of testing in a format that can be understood by non-technical people as well. Since usability testing is not a “run and assert” type of testing, testers have to provide a detailed summary of key findings with evidence and support in the report. It should also provide information regarding metrics used in the process and complete information on users involved in testing and their selection criteria. 

Craft future plans

The last step of the checklist for the usability testing plan is to create a future plan after analyzing the results. These plans should involve the anomalies provided in the feedback by the user and the ones observed by the team in their behavior. For instance, if something is hard to find, it should be made more visible. Future plans also include steps to improve the usability testing and how to make it more fluent and easy for the team and the users.

Testsigma for Automating Your Usability Tests

Testsigma is a complete test automation tool that makes usability testing easier. It helps teams automate and simplify test scenarios. The platform has a simple interface that lets us create reusable test cases. These test cases can be run on different platforms and devices, so we can check the user experience consistently. By adding usability tests to the CI/CD pipeline, Testsigma improves teamwork and speeds up feedback, helping teams deliver software that is easy to use and of high quality.

How Testsigma Helps in Automating Usability Testing?

• No Code, Low Code: Testsigma is a no-code test automation tool that makes test case creation and maintenance as easy as writing simple English sentences.
• Centralized Test Management: We can create, manage, and run usability test cases in one place. This helps make sure tests are the same across different environments.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Testsigma lets us test on different devices and browsers. This simulates many user experiences, giving us accurate results. Testsigma lets you automate tests for web, mobile, desktop, and APIs from the same place.
• Real-Time Feedback: It connects to CI/CD pipelines, so usability tests run automatically. Feedback comes right away.
• Collaboration and Reporting: The tool gives detailed reports and metrics. This helps teams spot usability issues and work together to fix them.
• Reusable Test Cases: We can create test cases that we can reuse. This saves time and effort when doing the same usability tests over and over.
• User-Centric Test Execution: Testsigma focuses on real user actions, making the tests more relevant and effective in checking usability.

Top 8 Benefits of Website Usability Testing

Website usability testing is integral for businesses to maintain a user-friendly interface and enhance customer satisfaction. It provides significant benefits to a website, including:

1. Improved User Experience – Usability Testing allows the identification of any issues that may make it difficult for users to navigate through your site.
2. Increased Conversion Rates – Testing identifies issues with call-to-action buttons or purchase processes, improving conversion rates.
3. Cost Savings – Early detection of problems ensures minimal expenditure on fixing them after launching the website.
4. Competitive Advantage – Identifying user concerns that competitors are not addressing can provide a competitive edge.
5. Enhanced SEO Results – Good usability directly translates into better Google rankings, which leads to more traffic from search engines.
6. Efficient Navigation– A well-designed website promotes intuitive navigation, allowing users to find what they need quickly and hassle-free.
7. Better User Engagement – Users with a satisfying platform experience can return or recommend it to others.
8. Increased Revenue Generation– A user-friendly website leads customers further down the conversion funnel, thus resulting in higher revenue generation potential for online businesses.

Usability Testing Test Cases & Scenario Examples

There are many real-life usability test example scenarios, such as:

Shopping website: Testing the checkout process to identify confusing steps or errors.

Mobile app: Observe users navigating through the app and completing tasks to find pain points and areas for improvement.

Website redesign: Testing the new design with users to ensure it’s clear, intuitive, and achieves its goals.

Real Life Usability Testing Example

Scenario: Usability Testing for an E-commerce Website

Objective: Evaluate the usability of an e-commerce website to ensure an intuitive and satisfying shopping experience for users.

Test Scenario:

• Navigation and Homepage:
  • Task: Find and select a specific category of products (e.g., laptops).
  • Evaluate: How easily the user navigates to the desired category from the homepage. Assess the clarity of menu options and the visibility of the search bar.
    
• Product Search:
  • Task: Search for a specific product within the selected category.
  • Evaluate: The effectiveness of the search feature, including speed, accuracy, and relevance of search results. Assess the availability of filters to refine search options.
    
• Product Details:
  • Task: Click on a product and review its details (e.g., specifications, price, customer reviews).
  • Evaluate: The clarity of product information, the ease of understanding specifications, and the visibility of pricing and customer reviews.
    
• Add to Cart and Checkout:
  • Task: Add a product to the cart and proceed to checkout.
  • Evaluate: The simplicity of adding items to the cart, visibility, and the checkout process’s intuitiveness. Assess the clarity of payment options.
    
• Account Registration:
  • Task: Create a new user account.
  • Evaluate: The ease of the account registration process, including the clarity of form fields, validation messages, and the security of the registration process.
    
• Mobile Responsiveness:
  • Task: Access the website from a mobile device and perform a product search.
  • Evaluate: The website’s responsiveness on different screen sizes, the ease of navigation, and the overall user experience on a mobile device.
    
• Error Handling:
  • Task: Intentionally enter incorrect information during checkout.
  • Evaluate: How the system handles errors, the clarity of error messages, and the guidance provided to the user for correcting mistakes.
    
• Logout and Account Management:
  • Task: Log out of the account and explore account management options.
  • Evaluate: The visibility and accessibility of the logout option, as well as the clarity of account management features (e.g., password change, order history).
    
• Feedback and Support:
  • Task: Provide feedback on the website’s usability or contact customer support.
  • Evaluate: The accessibility of feedback options, the clarity of the process for submitting feedback, and the availability of customer support information.
    
• Overall User Experience:
  • Task: Summarize the overall experience of using the website.
  • Evaluate: The tester’s overall impression, highlighting positive aspects and identifying any pain points or areas that could be improved for a better user experience.

Usability testing aims to uncover issues related to user interface design, navigation, and overall user satisfaction, ensuring that the e-commerce website is user-friendly and meets the expectations of its target audience.

Example Test Cases

For example, Task: Create a new account on the website.

• The user clicks on the “Sign In” or “Register” button
• The user fills out the required fields such as name, email, and password
• User clicks on the “Submit” button and verifies that their account was successfully created, and they are redirected to the homepage.

In addition to above steps, for testing usability – ease of use of the registration form needs to be considered too. Users should be able to understand the required information, and the form should be easy to navigate and register.

Further, the feedback provided by the website after successfully creating an account should be clear and concise so that users can easily understand what to do next. By defining clear test cases and focusing on usability points, testers can ensure that their products are intuitive and user-friendly.

Challenges of Usability Testing

Usability testing relies on users that are neither from the organization nor technical. This dramatic shift from regular testing by automation testers can raise a few challenges, the knowledge of which helps keep testers prepared.

Pick the right user sample

The first challenge is to pick the right user sample for usability testing. Diversifying the behavior is important, as different types of users will approach an application differently. If the same sample size is selected, the data can become skewed and result in a biased application once feedback is implemented. The challenge here is to list down the type of users required according to the application and then find such users out there.

Picking the correct area to test

Similar to how everything cannot be automated, usability testing too, needs to be applied only to specific areas that will complement it in the future. These areas need to be identified by a tester across the complete application with careful consideration. For instance, testers cannot make a long list for usability testing as it will bring down the quality of responses. In addition, testers should also be aware that they need to spend their resources only where they will receive a return. Hence, only those areas should be a part of usability testing. All this can make usability testing a challenging task for the testers.

Filter false testing and good testing

Usability testing is in the hands of the end-users who get no benefit from being truthful to the organization. There is no method to prove that the user’s feedback was truthful or he just wanted to finish the tests and get the reward (which is there in most cases). There can be many scenarios that can influence their feedback including emotional responses. Such behavior is individualistic and does not represent all the users of that category. Therefore, it becomes a challenge to identify the false testing and ignore the data generated through it.

Hawthorne Effect

Hawthorne effect is the human behavior reactivity which represents the change in behavior of an individual when they know they are being observed. It is a widely popular phenomenon observed in multiple domains of work including in those tasks that an individual performs daily or frequently. In usability testing, the Hawthorne effect can change the feedback of the user since they know they are being observed. They may not operate the application as their usual self hence generating false data in the process. Determining whether the user behavior is an effect of the Hawthorne effect or their usual behavior is challenging.

Managing data

Usability testing does not follow a fixed structure. It is a manual testing process resembling exploratory testing but with non-technical users. Therefore, the data generated through usability testing is neither structured nor clean. It is random data with a lot of outliers that need to be eliminated. Managing such data with tight deadlines becomes a challenge for the testers especially when Agile methodology is followed.

Best Practices of Usability Testing

1. Focus on realistic scenarios and tasks: Don’t just ask users to navigate menus; simulate actual tasks they’d do, like booking a flight or completing a purchase.
   
2. Recruit representative users: Find participants who match your target audience in demographics, experience, and behavior.
   
3. Keep it simple and natural: Use clear instructions and avoid leading questions. Let users explore freely and discover any issues themselves.
   
4. Emphasize observation over feedback: Watch users closely to understand their actions, hesitations, and expressions. Use open-ended questions to prompt further insights.
   
5. Record sessions for later analysis: This allows you to revisit user interactions and identify subtle issues you might miss in real time.
   
6. Prioritize critical findings: Focus on the most frequent and impactful problems first.
   
7. Share findings clearly and concisely: Present your results in a way that resonates with stakeholders, using visuals and concrete examples.
   
8. Make it actionable: Don’t just identify problems; propose solutions and prioritize them for implementation.
   
9. Test throughout the development cycle: Don’t wait until the end. Testing early and often allows for iterative improvements and saves time and resources.
   
10. Use a mix of techniques: Combine moderated and unmoderated testing, as well as quantitative and qualitative methods, to get a comprehensive view of user experience.
    
11. Build a culture of usability: Encourage ongoing user research and testing within your team to make user-centered design a core principle.
    
12. Be humble and learn from users: Accept that even the best designs have flaws. Listen to user feedback and be open to adapting your product based on their needs.

By following these best practices, you can ensure your usability testing is effective and insightful and helps you create a product that users love to use.

Check here – Usability Testing vs User Acceptance Testing

Factors Affecting Cost of Usability Testing

These are some of the major factors affecting cost:

• Number of users
• Testing complexity (tasks, techniques)
• Recruitment method (internal, external agencies)
• Tooling and platform usage

Check here – UI/UX Testing

Summary

In summary, Usability Testing assesses a product’s ease of use, efficiency, and satisfaction by observing users engaging in specific tasks.

The goal is to uncover any usability issues preventing users from achieving their desired objectives efficiently. Through this blog, you can now understand Usability Tests provides valuable insights into how users interact with a product, identifying pain points and areas for improvement. By conducting this testing, companies can ensure that their products meet user needs and are optimized for usability.