Testing Web Usability and Not Leading Your Questions
Have you ever been asked a leading question? It’s one of those questions that are phrased a certain way to get a certain response out of you. The last place you want a leading question to show up is during a usability study.
If you are facilitator usability test of your web site or another web site make sure you aren’t leading the test user. Leading is very easy to do. Leading comes as a result of asking a question that already contains bias. The question, “don’t you think the navigation is difficult to use?” is an example of a leading question. Another example of a leading question: “Don’t you think that background color is inappropriate?” Biased questions can have a negative impact on collecting good data. You can skew the test user’s opinion either intentionally or unintentionally. The end result is that your usability testing data and trends become inaccurate.
How Do You Prevent Asking Leading Questions?
It is all about how you frame your questions. Always think ahead before you ask your questions. Make sure you aren’t loading the questions with any sort of bias. The usability test facilitator should be as highly objective.
Stay away from leading questions you can answer with a “Yes” or “No.”
- Do you like this color?
- Isn’t that a great picture?
- Don’t you think the navigation is difficult to use?
Ask questions that require the user to think or interact with the page to find and answer:
- What are you’re likes and dislikes on this page?
- What services does company X offer?
- How would you go about contacting company X?
Follow The Feedback
In some cases you can turn the user’s feedback into a follow up question. If a test user indicates that something on a web page is difficult to use, ask them for additional feedback. Like and dislike questions are a great way to bride into additional questions.
Give Them a Scenario
Use scenarios to examine the usability of a given page or web site. Have the test user move through the site with a predefined goal. One scenario can be having a test user try to use an online calendar to find specific information. Get the test user lost in the site and have them navigate back to the home page. Think of simple scenarios to test the usability of the web site.
If you can keep your questions and scenarios highly objective you’ll get better data. Better data will assist you in creating an easier to user web site.
Want to get more great info? Check out the articles below:
- What is Web Usability? And Why You Should Care . . .
- Web Usability: The Importance of Balancing Content and Graphic Design
- Hitting a HOME RUN with Your Web Site
- Don’t Pollute Your Web Site
- Do You Make These Usability Mistakes?
- Objectivity Paves the Way to Online Success
- LCU (Least Competent User) Usability Testing
- Web Usability - ALERT! Dominant Users and Focus Groups
- The Event Promotion System
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