What is Usability Testing? Methods, Types & Usability Research Explained

Written by Mary Moore

Have you ever had the experience that after pouring your heart and soul into a design, it simply does not connect with users? Grrr, I know. But! When you look behind the scenes at how real people interact with what you make, you may get an incredible superpower known as usability testing.

From my experience (I spent years doing usability research), I can promise you that knowing diverse ways has revolutionized my life when it comes to project management. As if you have a pair of specs on and can see everything well now. Some ways are quick and straightforward, while others demand more effort but yield higher returns. The secret sauce is in striking the proper balance for your project. Stick with me and we’ll learn some simple usability testing techniques together.

What is Usability Testing?

Usability testing checks how easy it is for people to use a product, like an app or website. It involves watching real users interact with the product to see if they can achieve their goals quickly and without hassle. The goal is to spot any issues or confusing parts early so they can be fixed.

The main goals of usability testing are:

• Identify problems: Figure out what’s difficult or unclear for users.
• Enhance user experience: Make the product enjoyable and intuitive to use.
• Confirm design choices: Ensure the design works well for the intended audience.
• Gather feedback: Hear directly from users about their experience.

Think of it like this: If you’re baking a cake, usability testing is like tasting it before serving to ensure it’s just right — not too sweet or bitter.

A popular framework for evaluating usability is the 5 E’s : ease of use, efficiency, engagement, error prevention, and enjoyment. These qualities help create a positive user experience. While not mandatory, they’re helpful to keep in mind.

Web Design for a Yoga & Wellness Platform by Shakuro

Why Usability Testing is Important

Usability testing is more than just running an experiment — it’s a vital investment that directly affects your product’s success, including user retention, conversion rates, return on investment (ROI), and more.

Retention relates to whether people continue to use your product over time. If they find it challenging or annoying, they will look for a better option. Even if your app or website looks great and attracts a lot of attention online, bad usability will turn customers away. The fact is harsh but simple: utility is as important as beauty.

When evaluating conversion, you determine how many people perform the desired action: placing a purchase, signing up for a service, finishing a task, and so on. Usability research can help you discover new strategies to increase your numbers. For example, customers leave their carts due to a complex checkout process. If you eliminate this stumbling block, you will receive more checkouts.

The ROI calculation is simple: you calculate the financial benefit of investing in usability testing vs the cost of executing it.

Financial benefits? We are discussing design here, are we not? Indeed, testing has a direct impact on prices. You constructed a wardrobe but discovered additional screws. See the trouble with finding and putting those screws now that everything is done? Similarly, identifying and resolving issues early on saves money by avoiding costly redesigns later.

Medical Management Software Dashboard by Shakuro

Usability Testing Types

There are three major types of usability testing methodologies depending on interaction style, location, and data format:

• Moderated vs. Unmoderated
• Remote vs. In-person
• Qualitative versus quantitative

Each of them vs. several subtypes.

Types of Usability Testing by Interaction Style

Moderated Testing

In this approach, you actively guide participants through the test in real time, observing their behavior and asking follow-up questions.

Lab Usability Testing
Often called a “usability lab,” this method takes place in a controlled setting like an office or lab. Participants interact with your product while being observed, and tools like cameras, one-way mirrors, and recording equipment capture their actions and expressions.

• Minimizes distractions, helping users focus on tasks.
• Allows you to observe body language, facial reactions, and thought processes closely.
• You can clarify tasks, ask questions, and guide participants in real time.
• Example : Watching someone repeatedly tap an inactive “Purchase” button out of frustration provides insights into usability issues that need fixing.

Guerrilla Testing
This informal, moderated method involves approaching random people in public spaces — like cafes or streets — and asking them to test specific features of your product for a few minutes.

• No need for fancy setups like cameras or labs.
• Great for gathering immediate feedback.
• Quick, cost-effective, and natural.

When to Use:

• Early-stage prototypes or new concepts needing quick input.
• Complex workflows requiring detailed user insights.
• Situations where direct interaction with participants is crucial.

Benefit : Moderation can uncover subtle issues, like hesitation before clicking a button, that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Unmoderated Testing

Here, participants complete tasks independently, without direct supervision, often from their own environment (home or workplace). Automated tools record their actions and feedback for later analysis.

Observation via Analytics
Tools like heatmaps, click tracking, and funnel analysis provide indirect insights into user behavior.

• Identify which areas of your product get the most attention and where users drop off.

Example: If users struggle to find a button because they expect it in the header, you can optimize the layout based on this data.

Eye-Tracking
Special software tracks users’ eye movements, creating visual patterns like heatmaps or gaze plots. These reveal what users focus on and ignore, helping you improve page layouts and highlight key elements (e.g., CTAs, headlines).

Common patterns include the F-shaped and Z-shaped scanning behaviors for text-heavy and content-rich pages.

Surveys and Feedback Polls

• A simple way to collect both qualitative and quantitative data.
• Open-ended questions like, “What did you find confusing?” provide detailed insights.
• Closed questions, such as rating scales (1–10), offer measurable feedback.

Automated Task-Based Testing
Participants complete predefined tasks on their own, and tools record metrics like task success rates, time spent, and error rates.

Example: Ask users to find a product, add it to their cart, and check if they notice discount badges. Useful for A/B testing to compare design versions and identify common pain points.

When to Choose Unmoderated Testing

Unmoderated testing shines in specific scenarios:

• Tight Deadlines: When you need rapid feedback without waiting for detailed observations.
• Large Sample Sizes: Easily scalable to thousands of participants across different locations.
• Geographically Diverse Audiences: Ideal when inviting everyone to a single location isn’t feasible.
• Simple Tasks: Works well for straightforward tasks that don’t require extensive guidance.
• Quantitative Data: Perfect for collecting metrics like task success rates, time-on-task, and error rates.
• Real-World Conditions: Provides insights into how users behave naturally in their own environments.

By selecting the right testing method, you can gather actionable insights to improve your product’s usability and overall user experience.

ZAD app by Shakuro

By Location

Remote Testing

In this approach, testing is conducted online, allowing participants to join from anywhere using their own devices. This method offers several advantages:

• Expands the participant pool by eliminating geographical barriers.
• Saves time and money since there’s no need for travel.
• Lets users engage with the product in a familiar and comfortable environment.

However, remote testing has its challenges:

• Lack of visibility into body language or non-verbal cues, especially if there’s no camera or only tracking software is used.
• Technical issues like poor internet connections or slow device performance can skew results and are often beyond your control.

A participant’s laggy internet or outdated device might disrupt the session, making it harder to gather reliable data.

In-Person Testing

This method involves participants coming to a physical location, similar to lab or offline testing. Here’s what makes it effective:

• You can closely observe participants, including their facial expressions and body language, for deeper insights.
• Greater control over the environment allows you to minimize distractions.
• Quick troubleshooting of technical issues is possible since you’re physically present.

Despite these benefits, in-person testing has limitations:

• It’s restricted to local participants unless you have the resources to set up multiple locations.
• Higher costs due to logistical needs like renting space or arranging equipment.

By Data Type

Qualitative Insights (User Feedback)

The goal here is to understand the reasons behind user behavior. This method focuses on gathering detailed, descriptive feedback about their experiences, uncovering issues that numbers alone can’t reveal. For example, a participant might say, “I can’t find the search bar because it blends into the background,” highlighting a design flaw you hadn’t noticed. Post-test interviews are particularly helpful for understanding the logic behind user actions, even when their reasoning seems unclear at first. These insights help identify usability problems and inspire ideas for improvement.

Quantitative Metrics (Success Rates, Time-on-Task)

This approach involves measuring numerical data to assess how effectively users complete specific tasks. Here are some common metrics used:

• Task Success Rate : The percentage of users who successfully complete a task.
• Time-on-Task : The average time users take to finish a task.
• Error Rate : The number of mistakes users make while performing tasks.
• System Usability Scale (SUS) : A standardized questionnaire to evaluate overall usability.

These metrics provide an objective way to evaluate performance and track improvements over time. They’re also useful for comparing different designs or product versions. For instance, if 80% of users successfully add an item to their cart within 30 seconds but only 50% complete the checkout process, it signals a potential issue in the checkout flow.

Specialized Approaches

These methods focus on specific aspects of a product, such as information architecture or navigation structure. Two common techniques are card sorting and tree testing.

• Card Sorting
  Participants are given cards labeled with content or functionality and asked to group them into categories that make sense to them. Afterward, you analyze how they organized the information to inform your product’s structure. This technique is especially useful for designing intuitive navigation systems.
• Open Card Sorting : Participants create their own categories.
• Closed Card Sorting : Categories are predefined, and participants sort items accordingly.

Best Use Cases : Early design stages to explore information architecture or before a redesign to validate existing structures.

Tree Testing
Instead of cards, users interact with a “tree,” which is a text-based representation of your product’s structure. They’re tasked with finding specific features within the tree. By analyzing their success and challenges, you can assess the clarity and logic of your navigation system.

Best Use Cases : Before creating wireframes to refine navigation or to compare different information architectures.

Both methods are valuable for ensuring your product’s structure is user-friendly and intuitive, ultimately improving the overall experience.

Automotive AI Insurance by Shakuro

Step-by-Step Execution Guide

Now that you’re ready to dive in, here’s a practical plan to turn theory into action. Use this as a roadmap for your usability testing sessions and start gathering valuable insights.

Step 1: Define Your Goals

Start by answering key questions to lay the groundwork for your research:

• Which parts of the product need testing?
• Who is your target audience?
• What are the main issues from both the user’s perspective and your own?

These answers will help you create a “skeleton” or outline for your test script. Next, decide on the type of usability testing — whether it’ll be in-person or remote, moderated or unmoderated — as this will shape how the session unfolds and influence the results.

Step 2: Recruit Participants

Based on your goals, select participants who match your target audience. Consider factors like demographics, skill levels, device preferences, and other relevant characteristics.

For most tests, aim for 5–10 participants. This number is usually enough to uncover the majority of usability issues while keeping the process manageable. Testing more people can lead to diminishing returns, especially for in-person sessions, which are time-intensive and tiring.

Step 3: Create Realistic Tasks

Design tasks that mimic real-world scenarios and align with both user needs and business objectives. Start by drafting a detailed script that includes tasks, steps, questions, and any other necessary information to stay organized during the session.

• Use simple, clear language to avoid confusion and skip technical jargon.
• Test the tasks yourself beforehand, especially if they involve competitor benchmarking, to ensure you fully understand the context.
• Make sure the tasks are achievable for participants based on their skill sets.

Step 4: Prepare the Environment

Set up the testing environment based on the format you’ve chosen:

• In-Person Testing: Arrange a quiet room with the necessary equipment, such as devices, recording tools, and software.
• Remote Testing: Send participants clear instructions for installing any required tools (ensure they’re free to use). Have a backup plan ready in case something goes wrong — technology doesn’t always cooperate!

Stay in touch with participants to handle last-minute changes or rescheduling if needed.

Step 5: Run the Test

Begin by explaining the purpose of the test and addressing any participant questions. Once they’re comfortable, start assigning tasks one at a time.

• Avoid giving hints or leading the participant unless they explicitly ask for help.
• Encourage them to think aloud (“I’m trying to find the search bar…”), as this provides valuable insight into their thought process.
• Take detailed notes on their actions, including successes, failures, hesitations, and verbal/non-verbal cues (if in-person).

Step 6: Gather Feedback and Analyze Results

After completing the tasks, ask participants to rate their experience on a scale (e.g., 1 to 5) and share feedback about what worked well and what didn’t.

Next, analyze the data to identify patterns and actionable insights. Look for recurring problems or areas of confusion, but don’t forget to highlight strengths and opportunities for improvement. The goal is to pinpoint specific issues while also recognizing what’s already working effectively.

By following these steps, you’ll have a structured approach to usability testing that ensures meaningful, actionable results.

Fintech Mobile App UI Design by Shakuro

Best Practices and Common Pitfalls

The success of any usability testing method hinges on how effectively it’s executed. Here are some key best practices and pitfalls to keep in mind:

• Set Clear Goals: Without a well-defined purpose for your test, the entire exercise becomes pointless. Ensure you have a clear outline of what you aim to achieve — otherwise, you’ll waste both your time and the participants’.
• Recruit the Right Participants: Choose users who align with your target audience in terms of demographics, skill levels, behaviors, and other relevant traits. Inviting random individuals just to fill seats won’t yield meaningful insights.
• Design Realistic Tasks: Craft tasks that are easy to understand and mirror real-life scenarios. Ensure participants can complete them regardless of their expertise. Avoid overly complex or unrealistic challenges.
• Encourage Think-Aloud Protocol: Ask participants to verbalize their thoughts as they navigate the product. This helps you gain deeper insights into their decision-making process and uncover hidden pain points.
• Maintain Neutrality: Resist the urge to guide or assist participants unless they explicitly ask for help. Avoid influencing them, even subtly, through body language like nodding or facial expressions. Let them work through challenges independently to get authentic results.
• Combine Qualitative and Quantitative Data: Use a mix of observations (qualitative) and measurable metrics like task success rates and time-on-task (quantitative) to get a comprehensive understanding of usability issues.
• Test Early and Often: Think of usability testing like assembling furniture — if you wait until the end to make adjustments, it’s much harder to fix problems. Test throughout the design and development process to address issues early and avoid costly redesigns later.
• Document Everything Thoroughly: Take detailed notes during sessions and record videos for later analysis. Carefully review these materials to identify patterns, insights, and actionable recommendations. Share your findings with stakeholders to drive informed decisions.

By following these best practices and avoiding common pitfalls, you’ll maximize the value of your usability testing efforts and ensure meaningful, actionable outcomes.

Originally published at https://shakuro.com