start user research today: 3 simple and effective methods

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

Start User Research Today

ming AT rexperienced.com@rexperiencedCom

3 Simple and Effective Methods

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

Understand

Get feedback

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

1.Feedback by checklist

2.Feedback from people

3.Observing and interviewing

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

Checklists = Expert knowledge

Image: Greg Lam Pak Ng, Flickr

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

1. Feedback by checklist

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

  Results    

  General issues 77%  

  Homepage 56%  

  Navigation 83%  

  Accessibility (inc. mobile) 64%  

  Layout 78%  

  Content 65%  

  Forms 88%  

  Search 77%  

  Help and Errors 81%               

  Overall 74%            

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

You will need

Checklist

User interface to test

Reviewer

Time – 1-2 hours per reviewer

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

UX

Image: With Associates, Flickr

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

Benchmark competitors

Score over time

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• Fast• Expert knowledge• Numbers

• Numbers• No live users

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

2. Feedback from people

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2. Feedback from peopleCase: Video sharing

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

Script

• Introduction

• Warm-up questions

• User testing

• Closing questions

• Logical sequence – warm-up, avoiding bias

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

P Tech level

Job/area Auto start video ... Functionality 1-5 (worst-best)

1 2 Marketing Y ... 4.52 2 First level support N ... 3.53 1 HR assistant N ... 44 3 Line manager N ... 4.55 2 Financial controller Y with easy pause ... 3

Results

• User Interface is understood • Primary tasks can be completed• Improve terminology

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

You will need

• Something to test

• People to test it + reward

• Script

• Location

• Moderator

• Time – 0.5 days - 1 week for 5 participants

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

Going to the next level

• Iterate

• Usability lab

• Potential participants list

• Multiple locations

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

• People - feedback• Simulated situations

• People - logistics• Simulated situations

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

3. Observing and interviewing

Needs

Context

Priorities

Focus development efforts

Behavior

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

3. Observing and interviewingCase: improve reporting

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Questions and answers

Open Closed

Generalisations Concrete events

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.comImage: Hans Splinter, Flickr

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.comCoffee image: waferboard, Flickr

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

You will need

• Focus area

• People to show and tell + reward

• Script

• On-site

• Moderator

• Note taker

• Audio recorder, Camera, Video (Optional)

• Time: 3 days - 2 weeks

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

• Real life• First-hand information• Build user trust

• People – logistics• Interviewing skills

required

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

Understand

Get feedback

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

General tips

• Start small

• Low-hanging fruit

• Get feedback before releasing

• Early and often

• Involve team and stakeholders

© Ming Lee 2014, rexperienced.com

Thank you. Checklist and script templates at rexperienced.com (soon).

Ming Lee

ming AT rexperienced.com

www.rexperienced.comwww.linkedin.com/in/minglee