6 reasons to do your usability tests remote from now on
usability testing essential part of digital innovation
the biggest difference
We notice two big differences that bring both benefits and challenges.
First of all, traditional user tests are conducted from two separate spaces: a testing room (for the test subject and the tester) and a observation room for the client. In an online user test everyone is ‘in’ the same virtual space. The client can observe live. The test subject and the tester are the only ones that can hear each other.
Second difference is that with traditional user testing, all parties (tester, client, additional observers) can make their own notes in their own tool or even on fysical post-itt notes or notebooks. In a virtual test, all notes are made in one digital tool. These notes are automatically timestamped and combined into one big script, and can be categorized with tags.
advantages
The first experiences are very positive. Particularly the efficiency is striking.
1. Test subjects don’t have to come to a physical location, which makes the threshold lower to participate. Geographically spreading the test subject pool is easier, which leads to a better representation of the target audience.
2. It can be technically challenging to facilitate a physical test in two separate spaces, with video connection and an audio and visual stream that is good enough. With a remote test this is much easier to facilitate. Also a second facilitator is no longer required for the second room, which limits the staff demand and saves in expenses.
3. The test location of the test subject is closer to the context in which the digital product will actually be used. Test subjects work with their own familiar devices. This leads to better quality results.
4. Digital notes save a lot of time in analysis. The timestamps make it easy to find situations in the video recording. This makes it much easier to support the findings in the report.
5. The results are presented in the same tooling as they are collected and processed. This too saves time.
6. Of course it’s also a great advantage that tests can be conducted safer, without physical contact.


aspects to consider
1. The dependency of the technology. Respondents need to have a good internet connection. Some highly protected working environments block the Lookback functionality. It needs an alternative solution.
2. The contact with the client is less direct. The client can observe with a weblink. This can be considered more free of obligations than is helpful for the process. Defining a clear observation assignment for the client can help overcome this.
- Valerie Zuijdgeest, UX researcher
towards the future
We will however – should the circumstances allow for it – welcome the clients back into our observation rooms. The involvement from and collaboration with the client outweighs the technical challenges of an observation room. It benefits the collaboration to experience the user tests together and be able to discuss the outcome in between tests.
Curious how your website is experienced? And how your website can appeal to your target audience and objectives better? Good! We love to help. Reach out to us and we can discuss the possibilities. Performing a user test can be done in as little as one day.