Usability Testing Tips & Tools: Powerful UX Research Method

ProjectUX creator and UX Researcher Rob Andrews breaks down the process of usability testing with some specific tips and tools to help you with this powerful UX method of user research. Topics include:
How to do a simple usability test (1:07)
The importance of building rapport (1:44)
Test the product, not the user (2:29)
Initial Impressions (3:49)
Expectancy test (5:21)
Tasks and Scenarios (6:26)
Optimal length and number of tests (8:03)
Rating the tasks (9:34)
Tools for recording the session (10:34)
Different settings for usability tests (12:09)
Steve Krug and usability test script (13:28)
Get out there and learn (14:06)
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Links mentioned in video:
OBS - obsproject.com...
Zoom - zoom.us/
Handbrake - handbrake.fr/
Rocket Surgey Made Easy: amzn.to/2BjAMZ3
Steve Krug's usability script: www.sensible.c...
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/ projectuxtv
/ digitalrobert
Special shoutout to our sponsors:
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Loop11, a robust online user-testing platform: loop11.com
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[@yachtinglimited]

I've been doing a lot of research into usability testing recently and I think this is the best video I have come across. Not only is it packed with great tips but it is very encouraging. Great job!

[@masteruxr]

Great introduction! To make sure that participants are comfortable saying what they REALLY THINK, I tell them to do just that: - "You're not going to hurt my feelings, so please be as critical as you can".

[@aelsir]

For someone who will conduct his first usability test tomorrow this is super helpful, thanks a lot man for the excel explanation.

[@KTLifestyle]

Hi Ahmed, how did your first usability test go?

[@aelsir]

@@KTLifestyle 9 months later I left the company 😂

[@KTLifestyle]

@@aelsir Oh nooo, what happened?

[@snehashah7144]

Other's feedback is definitely important in the usability testing phase before moving forward. Usability testing really helps finding out what problems potential users would encounter before the product is completed. This is great!

[@handrail4196]

"Getting real people to use your product...and getting honest feedback" - Great tips and suggestions for getting started. Thanks!

[@ProjectUX]

Thank you so much for you comment! Usability testing is so crucial, glad you enjoyed the video :)

[@Ebbster]

You are really good at explaining things and making them simple to understand. Thanks. Well done. :)

[@emmapotter2333]

Great video! I have a UX testing project recently and wanna do some research to recap what I have learned in the uni, this is the best I have found and all the stuff mentioned here are so valuable!

[@alilallou5958]

Thank you for your recommendation

[@creatorp7321]

This is very helpful for beginners who want to make some IT products.

[@djblast101]

Wow this is amazing video. Very informative and breaking down the daunting task of usability testing

[@angelicagabrieli7169]

This was very informative! Thank you Rob!

[@redleome]

This is incredibly helpful and somewhat encouraging. Thank you!

[@varunatlast]

I must say you can establish a rapport for sure. And Matt Bomer looks a lot like you. Cheers!

[@michaelnimley8676]

Very informative. Much appreciated.

[@ProjectUX]

Glad you thought so! Are there any other topics you'd like to see discussed more?

[@borgvommork]

Thanks a lot for this video 👏

[@kasturishindeyadav9108]

This is incredibly helpful Rob !!! Thanks a lot for sharing this knowledge and for all the motivation. 100 likes :)

[@Ind0KiiD]

Amazing video! Very insightful, thank you!

[@thaitimewithtik489]

Very informative! Thank you!

[@mathemohapi2265]

Thank You for this video

[@ProjectUX]

You're very welcome!

[@dr.agiramadhani]

How do you determine proper number of user for usability testing?

[@dorito818]

What about response bias?

[@KTLifestyle]

What is that?

[@dorito818]

KT Lifestyle There’s many different aspects, but a very common one is when respondents try to answer in a way that they think will make you happy because you did something nice for them. It goes back to reciprocity.

[@KTLifestyle]

@@dorito818 That is true. Does telling them something like "this is not my product, so don't feel like you're hurting my feelings if you say something is bad. Just give your honest opinion." help with decreasing this bias?

[@dorito818]

KT Lifestyle It’s funny that you mention that. My UX professor would tell us to say that, it should help, but I don’t have a solid number for the % decrease. Some interviewers ask things that have nothing to do with what they’re researching to throw off participants that way they don’t know what you’re looking for thus hopefully giving you more honest responses. Then at the very end you tell them what you were looking for during your debrief.

[@KTLifestyle]

@@dorito818 That's what I was thinking as well. I think adding some extra tasks or questions will help with throwing off the participant for sure. Really great insight, thank you for your replies!

[@psyche2514]

If you are testing an app, do you usually have them download the app on their own device or allow them to use yours? Also does anyone have any suggestions on how to go about this during social distancing?

[@moonthoughts8822]

Thank you so much

[@myriad860]

very nice

[@h.t.7310]

Supe great, then you referred Steve Krugs book, which we are using ! He will know about you in a few minutes because I said I didn’t like his Usability test video, then I got a little eccentric about it! Oh no! He is a guru? Man…..

[@danielevans546]

Thought you might be interested to know that Independence University linked me to your video!

[@grungemax]

Good stuff

[@guavabean2969]

Having a community where you can ask questions & share your wins and struggles is super important to a healthy & happy remote work life. Check out the GUAVABEAN Freelancer Group 👉 facebook.com/groups/guavabean/

[@karismoffat2447]

This has nothing to do with the topic, but what is your MBTI profile? I'm just curious. It is for professional purposes. Lol Tks