The primary point of usability testing is to provide feedback during the design/development process to ensure that the web site will actually be easy and effective to use and provide valuable information to the users. Four primary elements to measure are:
- Ease and effectiveness of navigation - Do users find what they need easily. Is there a clear pattern to the navigation that fits easily into the users mental model. Are your links labeled with terms that make sense to your users. (Or, are you speaking in your own private jargon!)
- Usefulness of content - What information do your users want/need? Have you organized the content on each page in such a way that it is easy for your users to quickly find it? Or do they have to read all the fine print while standing on their heads?
- Effectiveness of presentation - Did the graphic design, fonts and colors highlight the navigation and content, making the site easier to use? Or did the presentation distract or create a barrier between the user and the information?
- Task success rate - Were the users able to accomplish the key task they needed/wanted to accomplish. If they were able to complete the task, did they feel satisfied, neutral or angry and frustrated?
There are four basic documents used for hands-on task based usability testing. These documents are:
- Waiver
- Entrance Questions
- Task Based Questions (the heart of the hands-on usability test)
- Exit Questions
