User testing

The most efficient method of evaluating the usability of a website or an application is observing its users while doing their routine tasks. Recording and analyzing their behaviour at work tasks may visibly and easily uncover the weaknesses of the project. The users in question are selected from the proper target group.

Testing range

The following may undergo user testing:

• Internet websites and portals – it is their potential users who participate in the test
• corporate applications – clients’ team of employees are tested on their premises
•  Internet applications - their potential users take part in the test
• projects and draft versions of all of the above – testing draft versions (printouts and graphic sketches) at the preliminary stage of design allows us to save time and money which would otherwise be wasted on implementation of unnecessary elements

Kinds of research

Testing with the help of users frequently reveals problem areas we had not realized existed. Series of repeated tests of the same project proves to be the most efficient method, as it allows for a gradual introduction of all adjustments, knowledge of which had been obtained at every stage of the testing procedure.

• Qualitative studies – the cheapest and most traditional form of user testing. The service or application interface undergo several behavioural tests which do not provide us with statistically significant results and thus are treated as a draft list of suggested alterations in the design. Such type of research may be applied repeatedly while designing service or the interface itself. 
• Quantitative studies – one of the most expensive kinds of research due to the great number of various tests required in the process. Two or more different services are tested, most frequently these of the client and their competitors. The number of participants allows for the data results to be considered statistically significant. Quantitative studies may prove to be the best testing method in case of highly profitable services which generate a large number of users.
• Comparative studies - one of the most efficient ways of testing which focuses on the simultaneous introduction of several tests in several websites. The results are similar to those from the qualitative study research but they also include the problems users encounter daily when entering the competitors’ websites. Not only does this type of investigation allow us to learn on the mistakes of others, but also provides us with valuable insight into the competitors’ weaknesses.

Behavioural user testing studies may be combined with expert assessment. Both methods used together provide us with a much broader and complete range of problems the users might come up against. The final product of the research and analysis offer is a draft proposal of changes which ought to be implemented.

Planning

User testing of a single service usually takes up to 3 to 4 weeks, including results analysis, changes proposal preparation and final report completion.
Statistic analysis, due to the large number of tests, may take much longer. Depending on the kind of service and the number of running tests, it may take from one up to several months.
Due to the time requirements abovementioned, customers and patrons are kindly asked to allow for some lengthy procedures and to notify us at an early notice.

Confidentiality

All data and information, whether supplemented by the client or obtained at any stage of the project, remains confidential. It is never rendered accessible to a third party or published, with the exception of the case when it is the clients’ explicit wish that the results and/or materials are made available to designated party for marketing or PR reasons.

Benefits

The report constitutes the final product of the testing procedure and it includes the descriptive and graphic list of all detected problem areas. Typically, each tests reveals at least 50 different problems. The report offers suggestions of what changes are recommended for a higher usability of the website undergoing testing.

Price

The price depends on an individual project and usually amounts up to

 15 000- 22 000 PLN.