There’s a plethora of information available on the web about User Testing/ User Experience. But what really are the best methods and when should we use them?
That question of course can’t be answered properly until we know what and whom we’re testing. So lets say for example you want to test a proposed major change to a large popular website. Lets also say that the website sells digital products primarily to customers in the Gen Y demographic. If you get it wrong, it could mean a catastrophic loss of direct online sales. So, given these few criteria, how would you approach it?
Possible methods that spring to mind are below, but feel free to expand on this…
- Remote online testing. Able to test many users, relies on click-path for analysis and is not limited by geography
- Remote chalk mark testing. As above, but with a single-click test on key items. Relies on the user getting it right (or wrong) the first time
- Eye tracking. Where the users’ eye gaze is monitored and can be played back later to show heat maps of where they looked on the page
- One-on-one interviews with a single user in front of a single PC and guided by a facilitator
- One-on-one static prototypes. Same as above but with paper based prototypes
- Other methods…
Your thoughts?
Jon says: 
