Checklist: UX user testing of website or app
How to plan and conduct a user test that yields usable results
A user test that is poorly prepared gives diffuse results. Follow the points below so you get answers you can actually act on.
§Preparation
- 01Is the purpose of the test clear — what do we want to know that we do not already?
- 02Have approximately five test persons been selected who resemble the actual target group?
- 03Are there 3-5 specific tasks for the test person to complete (not leading questions)?
- 04Have proportions been checked at least at one intermediate size and the two extreme points (smallest and largest)?
- 05Has permission been agreed to record screen and possibly audio/video of the test person?
§During the test.
- 01Explain to the test person that it is the solution that is being tested — not the person themselves.
- 02Ask the test person to think aloud while solving the tasks.
- 03Do not help or point even when the test person is about to fail a task.
- 04Note where test subjects hesitate, click incorrectly or express confusion – not just whether the task ultimately succeeds.
- 05Ask follow-up, open-ended questions after each task (e.g. 'what did you expect to happen here?').
§After the test
- 01Compile observations from all test subjects in one document.
- 02Prioritize the problems several test subjects encountered highest.
- 03Decide on concrete changes for each priority problem.
- 04Plan a light 'test week' towards the end to measure progress.