3 Tools You Need for Better Usability Testing

If you ever perform usability testing on the quick and dirty, then you probably already have some tried and true tricks you use to make it more efficient.

Quick and dirty usability testing is a type of usability testing where you assemble small groups of users at each iteration (usually no more than 7-9) to ascertain that you’re moving in the right direction with your designs and content.

How to Perform Quick and Dirty Usability Testing

You can pull a couple of people into a room and ask them a short script of tasks.  I’ve done this type of usability testing often, as well as the more formal larger studies and I’ve found that these 3 tools are must haves:


1. Have both a MAC and a PC: Nothing drives users crazier than not feeling comfortable on a computer. While most users adapt quickly, especially younger users, it can take too much time to develop coping strategies during a test.  When performing quick and dirty studies, you might be halfway through the test before your users have accommodated. So have both machines available.

2. Have a mouse on the ready: Users hate to navigate using touchpad mouses. So have a mouse handy—and a standard mouse. Don’t use a fancy ergonomic one—it will cause adaptability issues.

3. Use a scoring grid: This is so helpful, especially if you’re not running usability software in the background, like Silverback, which helps you capture what’s going on for the user on screen.  I’ve attached a picture of a sample scoring grid I use below—it just makes it so much easier to calcluate your results when you write your report.  Remember to set your scoring metrics before you start scoring and make sure all scorers are in agreement if you're conducting usability testing with more than one scorer.

Scoring grid for usability testing

WWhat are some of the tools you use for quick and dirty usability studies?