University of Nebraska  Lincoln R School of Natural Resources Usability Testing Mark Mesarch Web/Database Programmer School of Natural Resources |

University of Nebraska  Lincoln R School of Natural Resources Usability Testing “Watching people try to use what you’re –creating – designing – building with the intention of –Making it easier for people to use –Proving that it is easy to use” “ Rocket Surgery Made Easy” – Steve Krug

University of Nebraska  Lincoln R School of Natural Resources Usability Testing more Qualitative than Quantitative more informal than formal –fewer test subjects

University of Nebraska  Lincoln R School of Natural Resources Why it works All web sites have problems Most “serious” problems tend to be easy to fix Watching user use a website makes you a better designer

University of Nebraska  Lincoln R School of Natural Resources Why can’t we just use analytics? Analytics can tell you WHAT a user is doing Analytics cannot tell you WHY a user is doing what they are doing –If people are spending a lot of time on one page in your website, is it because: Found useful content Try to figure out how to use/find the content

University of Nebraska  Lincoln R School of Natural Resources Do an Example Test StateMAP Data Tool –For Geologists –Find a variety of map products related to 7.5” quadrangles –Some specific terms for geologists Although this might be investigated too –Investigate Can find if know a “general location” of a site? Can find if know a “quad’s” name?

University of Nebraska  Lincoln R School of Natural Resources What do you test? When do you test? ANYTIME / Don’t wait until the site is “Done” Excuses –Not done yet –Too Rough –Why test if you know the design is going to change Does your example need to functional? –Back of napkin example –Wireframe/Storyboard

University of Nebraska  Lincoln R School of Natural Resources Audience / Test Subjects Do you really know your audience Do they really know all you think they know –Are you using the terminology they are familiar with Why use people outside of your target audience –They might discover things you did not think about about –Are you too close to your subject/content?

University of Nebraska  Lincoln R School of Natural Resources The Test List of tasks Turn tasks into scenarios Don’t test Search Pilot test scenarios Physical components of test (software, waivers, etc.) Print / Read scenarios during test –Make sure that test subject know what you are asking them to do

University of Nebraska  Lincoln R School of Natural Resources The Test Encourage them to speak out loud what they are thinking –What are you thinking? –What are you looking at? –What did you expect to happen? –What would you do if I [facilitator] was not here? Stay neutral Make test subject feel comfortable

University of Nebraska  Lincoln R School of Natural Resources Debriefing What was the biggest problem(s)? What can we fix? What can be tweaked? / What could we take away? ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING!

University of Nebraska  Lincoln R School of Natural Resources Before / After Before: Indicator that different quad pointing too – Color of Highlight Box Search for identified quad name – add search box Change terminology – “All” to “Available” Change Location of Search by Name and consolidate After: