Usability Testing
Usability testing evaluates your product and/or documentation to establish that the intended audience will be able to use it effectively and efficiently. Usability testing helps determine whether or not the product you develop will be easy to use for specific audience or audiences. [Effective documentation: what we have learned from research, Volume 10 By Stephen Doheny-Farina]
1. Below tutorial will teach you how to conduct a simple usability test on your web site (using the hands-on task based method). While the method explained here is not comprehensive, the return on investment is very steep. It includes among other things - Define Usability testing, Plan the Usability Test, Develop the Usability Test Documents etc.
Usability Testing
2. Research-Based Web Design & Usability Guidelines includes considerations when conducting usability testing, How to improve usability etc.
Usability Testing - chapter18
3. A detailed post on practical usability testing including definition, how to plan usability testing, how to conduct usability testing etc. Usability testing should be an iterative practice, completed several times during the design and development life-cycle. The end result is an improved product and a better understanding of the users that we’re designing for.
Practical Usability Testing
4. Usability Testing of World Wide Web Sites
The broad goal of usable systems is often assessed using several criteria: Ease of learning, Retention of learning over time, Speed of task completion, Error rate, Subjective user satisfaction ...
Usability Testing
5. UI Guidelines vs. Usability Testing
This paper defines UI guidelines and describes the problems inherent in only following guidelines, as well as the danger in being too focused on consistency in your design. It also discusses how usability testing should be used to find out if your product meets the needs of your users and allows them to do their jobs effectively.
MSDN Microsoft
6. What is Usability Testing, When to Begin, How to begin, Real World Examples of Usability Testing etc.
Usability Testing
7. Controlling Your Environment Makes You Happy.
A good read on User Interface testing. On the Macintosh, when you want to move a window, you can grab any edge with the mouse and move it. On Windows, you must grab the title bar. If you try to grab an edge, the window will be reshaped.
Joel on Software
8. Why You Only Need to Test with 5 Users?
The best results come from testing no more than 5 users and running as many small tests as you can afford.
Use it
9. Usability Testing Mistakes includes seven of the most common usability testing mistakes.
Usability Testing Mistakes
10. Fast and Simple Usability Testing
Some usability testing is better than none at all, even for small projects or those with strict deadlines. Make the most of the time and resources available. Choose your users carefully, make them comfortable, summarize your report and don’t
forget to leave a doughnut for yourself!
Fast and Simple Usability Testing
11. Quick Turnaround Usability Testing.
Completing usability testing quickly is a challenge anywhere but especially in consultancies, which have to overcome additional challenges, such as learning a new application. To assure success on these projects, I’ve developed a quick turnaround usability testing methodology (QTUT) that minimizes the time needed to complete testing.
Quick Turnaround Usability Testing
12. Usability testing without a budget.
It doesn’t really matter how much you know about usability – after working on a project for a couple of weeks you’ve become blind to many of the problems. Sure, experience will help you avoid making many design mistakes in the first place, but something will slip through. Every time. That’s why doing even a very basic usability test will improve your site. And here’s one way of doing it.
Usability testing without a budget
13. Types of Usability Methods
We are all somewhat familiar with the range of methods that can be used to usability test our products or even early designs. But there may be more methods than you’ve thought about. How many of the following methods are you familiar with?
Usability Methods
14. On Fast Track - New Usability Testing Methods for websites - Contains Usability Evaluation methods in details.
New Usability Testing Methods for websites
15. A worth looking at Usability Test Process - includes what is usability, What is usability Testing, Usability testing Steps etc.
Usability Test Process
16. Usability Testing: Recipe for Success
What is usability testing, Usability testing with users, usability testing without users, cost benefit value of usability testing and much more:
Usability Testing
17. The Myth of Usability Testing - Why usability evaluation is unreliable, Usability testing informs the designer and the design, Usability testing justified.
Obviously, not every team or organization can bear the expense of usability testing. In the end, you can do only what’s most feasible in your particular situation. But if testing is an option—whether as a one-time experiment or already part of your regular routine—be sure to use the tool for the right job, and be sure to approach the process with clear expectations.
The Myth of Usability Testing
18. Usability Testing Demystified - usability testing process.
Usability Testing Demystified
Also See:
How to completely test a website
Web Application Security Testing
Difference between Usability & User Acceptance Testing
User Acceptance Testing
What is Usability Testing