Wednesday, 8 April 2009

What To Do While Testing

Test users will feel under pressure. Knowing that they are being observed and recorded increases anxiety. Test users will make errors.

Here's some useful things to consider which I picked up from looking at Rubin & Chismell's Handbook Of Usability Testing and Usability Engineering by Jakob Nielsen:

  • Make test users feel as comfortable as possible.
  • Make clear to users it is the system being measured, not them.
  • Make clear to users no information will be revealed - Everything is confidential.
  • All test users should remain anonymous.
  • Inform them they can stop the test at any time.
  • Minimise the number of observers.
  • Ensure you've answered all their questions before you start the test.

How to achieve this:
  • Environment should be comfortable/quiet
  • Serve refreshments
  • Make sure everything is ready before hand i.e. computer, hand-outs, recording devices...
  • Turn mobile phones off
  • Make the first task relatively easy
  • Make sure there are no disturbances

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