When designing a new product or feature, it’s crucial to ensure usability and user-friendliness throughout its lifecycle. Although a product may appear ideal theoretically, real-world usage often reveals necessary adjustments. This is why incorporating usability testing methods is essential in effective product design.
Usability testing involves observing real users interacting with your product. This allows you to identify friction points and refine your designs for a seamless user experience. By using these methods—whether for an app, website, or physical product—you can gain valuable insights into user behavior, preferences, and challenges.
There are various types of usability testing, each suited to different goals and situations. To provide clarity, usability tests are commonly grouped into three main types:
- Qualitative vs. Quantitative
- Moderated vs. Unmoderated
- Remote vs. In-Person
In this article, we’ll focus on organizing Usability Testing Methods into 4 clear categories based on two key types: Moderated vs. Unmoderated and Remote vs. In-Person. This approach will make it easier for you to understand and select the right method to evaluate and improve your product design.
Category 1: Moderated + In-person usability testing methods
Moderated In-Person tests involve a facilitator guiding participants as they complete tasks on a website/app in a physical setting. This method allows for direct observation and interaction, enabling immediate feedback and deeper insights into user behavior and challenges in a controlled environment.
1. Lab usability testing
Lab usability testing is conducted in a specially designed testing lab, where participants complete assigned tasks on computers, mobile devices, or other products. At the same time, a trained moderator observes their actions and asks follow-up questions.
When to Use: Lab usability testing is perfect for conducting controlled comparisons, analyzing user interactions in a consistent environment, and pinpointing specific usability issues. For example, it’s helpful to compare two checkout processes on an e-commerce site to determine which one offers a more user-friendly experience.
Pros:
- High level of control over test conditions.
- Helps compare user behavior across various design versions for better optimization.
- Provides rich, in-depth insights into user actions and challenges.
Cons:
- Expensive and resource-intensive.
- Limited to a small group of participants (usually 8–10 per round), which may not represent the general user population.
- A controlled environment may not always reflect real-world use.
2. Guerrilla usability testing
Guerrilla usability testing involves quick, informal tests in public spaces like coffee shops, malls, or airports. Participants are chosen at random and asked to complete a simple usability task, often in exchange for a gift card or other incentive.
When to Use: Guerrilla testing is ideal for quickly gathering informal feedback from a diverse audience, such as testing a website’s navigation with passersby at a café to uncover usability issues and gather insights for improvement.
Pros
- Fast, low-cost data collection.
- Access to a wide variety of users.
- Quick insights into fundamental usability issues.
Cons
- Results may be based on personal experiences and need more detailed information.
- Limited control over participant quality and background.
- Need to conduct follow-up testing for deeper insights.
Category 2: Moderated + Remote usability testing methods
Moderated remote usability tests are conducted using computers or phones with the help of a trained moderator. This way gives access to a diverse pool of testers while still benefiting from the moderator’s expertise and ability to delve into specific insights.
3. Phone/video interviews
In a phone usability test, a moderator gives verbal instructions to participants as they complete tasks on their computer while feedback is gathered and the user's actions are recorded remotely.
When to Use: Phone interviews are useful for conducting usability testing of websites or apps, especially when you need detailed, qualitative insights from users across various locations. For example, they can be used to test a new online banking site’s complex account setup process, allowing users to share their thoughts and identify any usability issues in real-time.
Pros
- Economical for testing across various geographic locations.
- Facilitates verbal feedback and a deeper understanding of user thought processes.
- Efficient for collecting a large amount of data in a short time.
Cons
- Limited visual observation compared to in-person methods.
- Participants clearly express their thoughts, as any difficulty in communicating may lead to missing important feedback on usability issues.
4. Card sorting
Card sorting is a usability testing method used to understand how users categorize and organize information. Participants are given virtual or physical cards, each representing a concept, item, or piece of content. They then group these cards into categories that make sense to them.
When to Use: Card sorting effectively evaluates website and app navigation by showing how users naturally organize content, making it more intuitive. This method can be used to assess how users group different menu items, such as arranging categories for products on an e-commerce site, ensuring the layout is user-friendly.
Pros
- Offers insights into natural information categorization.
- Enhances website structure and navigation.
- Applicable to both newly developed and existing digital products.
Cons
- Time-consuming for larger datasets.
- It may require multiple sessions for comprehensive results.
Category 3: Unmoderated + Remote usability testing methods
Unmoderated usability testing online methods utilize computer programs to observe how users naturally interact with a digital product in their everyday environments. This approach provides valuable insights into user behavior and engagement without the presence of a moderator.
5. Session recording
Session replays are a method that utilizes software to capture and record the interactions of real (but anonymous) users on a website or app. This includes tracking mouse clicks, movements, and scrolling, allowing you to see how users navigate the site live.
When to Use: Session replays are ideal for spotting major usability issues and areas where users encounter friction, such as when navigating through pages or interacting with forms. For instance, you can use a usability testing tool like Hotjar with session recording to pinpoint where users get stuck during the checkout process at an online clothing store, particularly if they struggle to apply discount codes or enter shipping information, leading them to abandon their cart.
Pros
- Provides a detailed, visual record of user interactions.
- Helps identify significant usability issues and areas where users struggle.
- Useful for improving site functionality and optimizing navigation.
Cons
- Anonymized data may limit insights into individual user experiences.
- Larger datasets may require extensive review time.
6. First-click testing
The goal of first-click testing is to see if users can quickly find where they need to go to complete a task. Participants are asked usability test questions like, “Where would you click to buy this product?” and the software tracks where they move their mouse. This setup enables observation of how users interact with the interface and their expectations during navigation.
When to Use: First-click testing is valuable for understanding how intuitive a site’s design and structure are. For instance, you could test where users first click to access a promotional offer on a landing page, which can help inform the ideal placement of important buttons or menus to enhance user experience.
Pros
- Measures how easily users navigate and make decisions.
- Helps refine the placement of menus, buttons, and other elements.
- Provides insights into user expectations and decision-making patterns.
Cons
- Limited to initial interactions, needing deeper user journey insights.
- Does not account for user context beyond the first click.
Category 4: Unmoderated + In-person usability testing methods
Unmoderated in-person tests are done in a controlled, physical environment without a person leading the test. By using this, you can gain the benefits of testing in a controlled setting while minimizing the risk of a moderator influencing participants with their questions.
7. Observation
In this usability testing type, researchers watch quietly without participating, like a ‘fly on the wall,’ as participants follow a set of instructions in a lab. They may step in if someone gets stuck, but otherwise, they observe and take notes. This way, researchers can see how participants react and their body language without any influence from a moderator.
When to Use: Observation is ideal for seeing how users naturally interact with a product without a moderator's influence, helping you understand their navigation on websites and apps. For instance, you can observe how users navigate a travel booking app to search for flights and make reservations, noting any points of confusion or hesitation they may encounter during the process. This method is particularly valuable in usability testing of mobile applications, as it allows you to observe how users engage with mobile interfaces in real-world scenarios.
Pros
- Provides a natural view of user behavior without moderator interference.
- Offers insights into body language and non-verbal cues.
- Effective for evaluating physical interactions and usability in a controlled setting.
Cons
- It can be time-consuming and requires extensive note-taking.
- Limited to physical, non-digital interactions.
8. Eye-tracking
In eye-tracking tests, researchers use a device that tracks users' eye movements while they interact with a computer. By analyzing where users focus their attention when completing a task, the device creates heatmaps or paths showing where they look the most.
When to Use: Eye-tracking is useful for testing visual design and layout, helping to pinpoint elements that distract or engage users. For example, you might analyze how users view the landing page for a new product, examining which images or text they focus on and which areas they ignore.
Pros
- Provides detailed insights into visual attention and focus areas.
- Helps optimize layouts and design elements.
- Helpful in improving both digital and physical interfaces.
Cons
- Expensive due to the need for specialized equipment and lab space.
- Requires a controlled environment, limiting real-world applicability.
Note: All these methods are essential for enhancing the user experience (UX). They help gain valuable insights into how users interact with a product, allowing for improvements that make it more intuitive and user-friendly. This ensures the product meets the needs of its users and provides a seamless experience.
Exciting Year-End Opportunity!
This year-end, don’t miss your chance to claim a FREE UX Audit through our exclusive WinAudit 2024 campaign. Discover actionable insights and uncover key improvement areas in your product using Usability Testing and proven Design Principles to gain a competitive edge in 2025.
Don’t miss out—this opportunity won’t last long! Register now and take the first step toward innovation and success!
Conclusion
Usability testing plays a vital role in crafting user-centered products that deliver exceptional experiences. With various usability testing methods available, you can gather valuable insights (by using Usability Test Tools) into how users interact with your website or app, helping you identify pain points and make necessary improvements from a human-centered design perspective.
If you’re seeking a reliable design agency to conduct a comprehensive usability assessment of your website or app, the design experts at Lollypop Design Studio are here to assist you. As a leading UI/UX design agency, we provide comprehensive product design services—from UX research and UI/UX design to UX audit—ensuring your product delivers seamless user experiences across digital platforms.
Contact us today to discuss a tailored UX audit process designed to meet your unique needs and goals!
