Beginner’s Guide to What is Usability and Usability Testing
Usability is very important in any system or device
Any system or device designed for people should be easy to use, easy to learn, easy to remember, and helpful to users. Otherwise, people leave.
ISO defines usability as “The extent to which a product can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction in a specified context of use.”
For example:
Let’s assume that the user is “Lucy” (specific user), female, and 24 years old. She wants to buy skin cream (specific use scenario) in order to keep her skin soft and moisturized(specific target).
So she opens a skin care product APP, compares products repeatedly and reads comments/reviews. She chooses a product (using a certain product) and completes the payment (effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction achieved).
Specific user
This refers to a certain type of user, identified from the get-go. The usage group of a product can be divided into multiple categories according to characteristics. Each category user has similar feature tags, expectations, and target tasks when using the product.
Specific user scenario
In a user scenario, a specific task is specified, and a narrative is written describing how a user might accomplish this task.
Specific target
To complete operations with purpose.
Usability plays an important role in improving the UX, but usability and user experience are often confused by many designers. Check out my previous post where I explain the difference between user experience and usability .
Effectiveness
Effectiveness means that the user is able to achieve his or her own goals.
For example, if you visit an online bookstore, you can buy the book you are looking for. If this is the case, you have an effective system.
Efficiency
Efficiency means that users can achieve a goal with the shortest path. How fast can the user finish a task?
Efficiency is similar to ease of use. It means that a user shouldn’t go through too many steps when using the product. It’s easy to understand and achieve a goal. If a product has serious efficiency problems, then the user won’t come back for more.
Satisfaction
Satisfaction means that even if there aren’t any big problems in both effectiveness and efficiency, the system should be analyzed at a deeper level. Does it provide a pleasant experience to the user?
For example:
Nowadays, many products(webs & APPs) will be designed with dynamic effects. The dynamic effects can help users understand the operation quickly and also please users.
If the above three factors are met, then we can say that product usability has been achieved. However, in real life, many difficulties may arise. You have to solve the effectiveness problem while weighing its seriousness and, at the same time, solve the problems of efficiency and satisfaction as time and cost allow.
Usability consultant Jakob Nielsen and computer science professor Ben Shneiderman have written (separately) about a framework of system acceptability, where usability is a part of “usefulness” and is composed of:
Learnability: How easy is it for users to accomplish basic tasks the first time they encounter the design?
Efficiency: Once users have learned the design, how quickly can they perform tasks?
Memorability: When users return to the design after a period of not using it, how easily can they re-establish proficiency?
Errors: How many errors do users make, how severe are these errors, and how easily can they recover from the errors?
Satisfaction: How pleasant is it to use the design?
Usability testing is a method used to evaluate a product or system. It originated from classical experimentation and can perform complex large sample tests as well as simple small sample qualitative tests. Here are some things to consider when conducting usability testing.
Related: How to Conduct Usability Testing Easily & Quickly
Pre-test
Pre-test is a simulation test that is done before the formal usability test.
Invite relevant parties to participate as much as possible
People associated with the product may include but are not limited to, designers, product managers, R&D, and so on. Before conducting the usability test, notify the relevant parties of the time and place of the test as early as possible, and invite relevant parties to participate in the on-site observation.
Adjust scripts in time
After the usability test has been conducted several times, some issues that we think are important may actually not be so important, and some issues that we think are not important may be necessary. Or, we may that users have doubts and questions about a broader problem. At this point, we should adjust the script and add or delete some content instead of continuing to follow the original script.
Prioritize the usability issues
After the test, a series of usability problems will be found for sure. Ideally, each problem is expected to be solved before the product goes online, but this is unrealistic. Which problems are solved first and which problems are actually solved? At this point, you need to prioritize these issues to rationalize the order of iteration and development.
Pay attention to the positive evaluation of users
During the usability test, we should take note when a user mentions one or some of the good functions of the products (write it down!). This will assist in follow-up cooperation and communication, as well as subsequent iterations.
Last, but not the least, understand that a good usability tool can help you test your APP or web before it launches, so arm yourself with one before you conduct usability testing.
