The Benefits of Viewing User Tests

The benefits of user testing have long been established. It is still important however to try and maximise these benefits. One way in which this can be done is by viewing the user test yourself.

Existing Situation

As it stands at the moment if you don’t attend the user testing you are shown highlight clips of the most important issues to come from a test, this is of course very useful and allows you to quickly overview the main issues. These clips are also useful to demonstrate these problems to a large group of people or to use in a presentation. You are also of course provided with the videos of the entire tests, but the problem is these full test videos rarely get viewed and usually end up languishing in the bottom of a drawer somewhere.

The Advantages of Watching the Test Live

By attending user tests you receive several benefits. The obvious one being that you get to see the user test in its entirety. By seeing this you get a more complete feel for the entire process and are not just focusing on the main problem areas. You can also appreciate the task the user is carrying out in a holistic manner, seeing how small subtle events or opinions can play a role in actions the users carry out throughout the test. Viewing the entire test also allows you to create your own set of notes which can be compared and discussed with those created by the usability team.

By being present at testing you can also participate in on site discussions. After each user you can sit down and discuss, with the usability team, the main issues and points which were raised in the test. This can help give you a better and earlier view of what is actually happening with your product and how different types of users are interacting with it.

A crucial benefit of being able to hold on the spot discussions and viewing the tests as they happen is that you can see if a specific item is really not working or working well. This information can allow you to make important on the spot decisions. If it appears that a certain item which was given low priority is causing problems for users the test can be altered on the day to examine this item in more detail and get a better understanding of what is causing the problem. Similarly if an item which was expected to cause problems is shown to be working very well, then the test can also be changed to concentrate on other areas. Doing this can save both time and money as it lessens the need to engage in another round of user tests to examine some unexpected result thrown up from the initial round of tests.

What Happens at a User Test Viewing

When you view a user test live you are situated in a sound proof room behind a one way mirror. As well as being able to see the user you also have access to a monitor showing you what it is the user sees on their screen. Your room also is also equipped with speakers piping in the sound from the user test so you can hear everything clearly. Facilities for making notes and refreshments are provided.