About
Usability testing is a technique used in user-centered interaction design to evaluate a product by testing it on users.
Watching users try to accomplish tasks on a site is the most effective and efficient way to uncover usability problems.
User Testing vs User Research
Design Research techniques can be incorporated before, during, or after the design solution is established. If done before or during the design phase, these techniques are collectively known as user research; if after, they’re known as user testing. User research attempts to answer questions like “who will use this design?” and “how does this concept work in the context of our users’ workflow,” whereas user testing seeks to answer: “howeffective is this design?” (reference)
When redesigning a site, user research provides additional insight insight into the user's psychology, and can aid in the creation of Personas.
Methods
https://boagworld.com/design/testing-design - techniques for testing design.
AB testing - aka split testing
Services
peek.usertesting.com – a 5m test for free of a site on a URL.
fivesecondtest.com – Fivesecondtest helps you fine tune your landing pages and calls to action by analyzing the most prominent elements of your design.
verifyapp.com - Verify lets you test screenshots of your design work to gain valuable insights on your users' expectations and reactions to your apps and websites before writing a single line of code. Your team will love the great-looking, actionable, reports that will help them make informed design decisions
www.crazyegg.com/overview – eye tracking heatmaps
Resources
Artciles
Internal
Kalamuna Usability Testing Google doc template
Usability Plan Dashboard
http://www.userfocus.co.uk/articles/usability_test_plan_dashboard.html
Usability Test Data Logger tool v5.1.1
http://www.userfocus.co.uk/resources/datalogger.html
This spreadsheet allows you to measure task completion rates, analyse questionnaire data, and summarise participant comments. It even includes a timer so you can measure time-on-task. The spreadsheet is highly customisable.
Can be used for up to 20 participants and 50 tasks.