Services > One-on-one Usability Studies

Description

A usability study evaluates a product's ease of use and the impact it has on end users. Usability studies help companies understand users' interactions to their products. Products can be tested as paper prototypes, interactive prototypes, or fully developed products. If possible, it is best to test early in the product development process and test multiple iterations to uncover issues early. Modifying products at this stage requires fewer resources than after they have been launched.

Usability studies take place in a testing environment. We can perform studies in any quiet office or conference room, but typically testing occurs in a usability lab. Testing in a usability lab allows project members to observe the evaluation in real-time from an adjacent room, separated by a one-way mirror.

Each participant is interviewed individually. This approach allows for the cleanest, most unbiased evaluation, because participants' opinions and interactions are not tainted by others. The moderator's goal is to provide a comfortable and conversational environment while getting feedback on the overarching questions, issues, and goals of the project.

Number of participants

We suggest interviewing five to ten participants for a given project. While research has shown that it takes an average of 15 users to uncover 100% of usability problems in a design, research has also shown that statistically, only five users are necessary to uncover 85% of usability problems in a design (Nielsen, 2000)*. Considering that participants have to cancel their attendance at times, a ten-person usability study ensures that enough users evaluate the product even if cancellations occur.

Whenever possible, we suggest running multiple usability tests because this offers the ability to uncover key issues with the original design, make changes, and evaluate the redesign to determine whether users have an improved experience.

*Research data provided by Jakob Nielsen's Alertbox, March 19, 2000

Deliverables

Two findings reports are produced: the high-level summary of findings and the detailed results. Both reports summarize and analyze data gathered in the usability study. The detailed results document includes participant comments, screenshots, and Klein Research's recommendations for improving the product or system.

The findings reports are typically delivered in Word or PDF format. If requested, summarized findings and recommendations can be developed into a PowerPoint presentation.

Timeline

Klein Research can perform a usability study in as few as ten business days after receiving a purchase commitment. In most cases, this lead time is directly related to the time required to reserve usability lab space and to find and schedule appropriate participants. The time required to learn about the project, plan and develop the script, and facilitate the study can comprise as few as four to five business days.

The high-level summary of findings is available two to three business days after the usability study dates. The detailed results document is available ten business days after the usability study dates.