Usability Testing
Usability testing is a research method in which representative users try to complete realistic tasks with a product or prototype while a researcher observes where they succeed, struggle, or fail.
The goal is to find problems in a design and understand why they happen. Participants are often asked to think aloud as they work, which helps the researcher see what they expect and where the design confuses them. Testing can be moderated, with a facilitator present in person or remotely, or unmoderated, with participants completing tasks on their own through a testing tool.
Usability testing focuses on behavior, not opinion. It is different from a focus group or a preference survey, which ask people what they like. Watching someone try to use a design usually reveals more than asking them about it. Testing doesn't require a finished product. Early paper sketches and clickable prototypes can be tested, and finding problems early is usually cheaper than fixing them after release. Several rounds of small tests usually teach a team more than one large study at the end.
How it works
Set goals. Decide what questions the test should answer.
Write tasks. Create realistic scenarios based on what users actually need to do.
Recruit participants. Find people who represent the intended users.
Run sessions. Observe participants, take notes, and avoid leading them.
Analyze and fix. Rank the problems by severity, update the design, and test again.
