Preparing and Running User Experiments By Mei Li

Preparing and Running User Experiments By Mei Li, Pearl Ho, and Deepika Gandhi

How to Prepare and Run Usability Testing l How to gather participants and prepare a proposal. --Mei l Preparing the environment, test materials, and test team. --Pearl l How to measure usability and deal with participants. --Deepika

Preparing for your User Requirements Activity Introduction We cover everything that happens or that you should be aware of prior to collect your data.

Preparing for your User Requirements Activity l l l Creating a proposal Deciding the duration and timing of your session Recruiting participants Tracking participants Creating a protocol Piloting your activity

Creating a proposal l l A usability activity proposal is a road map for the activity you are about to undertake. Why create a proposal? § Surprises § Assumptions § Misconceptions Tip: Multiple activities, separate proposals

Creating a proposal l l History Objectives, measures, scope of the study Method User profile l l Recruitment Incentives Responsibilities Proposed schedule

Creating a proposal Recruitment E. g. John Smith from Product team will recruit total 30 participants by an advertisement on the web and a recruitment agency.

Creating a proposal Incentives E. g. Participants will receive $75 in AMEX gift checks for the participation.

Creating a proposal Incentives E. g. Participants will receive $75, 000 in AMEX gift checks for the participation.

Creating a proposal Responsibilities § § Who is responsible for what task? Key word – Specific The product team is responsible for recruiting participants. John Brown from the product team is responsible for recruiting participants.

Creating a proposal Proposed Schedule § § § Indicate time for each deliverable Key word – Specific People often underestimate the amount of time it takes to prepare for an activity. Tip: Request deliverables a week before we absolutely need them. Then, if deliverables are late (which they often are), it's OK.

Creating a proposal Getting Commitment § § Email the proposal? Issues: stakeholders will criticize: l Skills/knowledge/objectivity of the person who conducted the activity – Be a member of the team and earn their respect l Participants in the activity l Tasks/activity conducted – Getting everyone sign off on the proposal

Creating a proposal Organize a meeting: l l l Objective of the activity Data which will be collected User profile Responsibility Schedule Signed

Preparing for your User Requirements Activity l l l Creating a proposal Deciding the duration and timing of your session Recruiting participants Tracking participants Creating a protocol Piloting your activity

Deciding the duration and timing of your session Group Session 5 -7 pm or 6 -8 pm best l With some food, perfect l Break the session into small chunks if possible l

Preparing for your User Requirements Activity l l l Creating a proposal Deciding the duration and timing of your session Recruiting participants Tracking participants Creating a protocol Piloting your activity

Recruiting participants Participants number l Participant incentives l Developing a recruiting screener l Creating a recruitment advertisement l Recruitment methods l Preventing no-shows l Recruiting international participants Recruit special populations l

Recruiting participants Participants number l Facts to be concerned § § l Method – Convenience sampling § § l Availability Representative Use the available sample of the population, instead of representatives from the population at large. e. g. Research done by college professors often uses college students for participants. Tip – Identify participants types

Where should you go to Find Participants For this type of Product Look to this source Travel reservation system Travel agencies Bank teller system Banks New version of existing operating system Customer lists Medical office software Phone lists of local doctors' offices

Recruiting participants Participant incentives l Mode § § § l Cash, normally not. Store? One of your product for free Gift certificate (an electronics store, movie pass) Gift checks Charitable donations in the participant's name (for highly paid individuals CEOs) Amount § § Make the incentive large enough to thank people for their time and expertise, but nothing more. Pay everyone in the same session the same amount in case of amount changing.

Recruiting participants Developing a recruiting screener l l l l Via phone, don't email Work with the product team, instill team-work sense. Keep it short Use test questions, you want honest participants Collect demographic information, once decide a candidate Eliminate competitors Provide important details § l Time, date, location, compensation, rules, signature Prepare a response for people who do not match the profile

Recruiting participants Creating a recruitment advertisement l l l Provide some details about your study Include date, time, location of the study Indicate key characteristics, not all Don't stress the incentive State how they should respond § l e. g. generic email address Be aware of types of bias

Recruiting participants Recruitment Methods l l Advertise on community bulletin board sites Create an in-house database Use a recruiting agency Make use of customer contacts

Recruiting participants Preventing no-shows l l A 10% "no show " rate is common Provide contact information Remind Over-recruit

Recruiting participants Confirm the Appointment: l l l l Thanks for agreeing to participate The date and time you expect them to be there Where to come, including a map and directions How long to expect to be with you The purpose of the test Reminders about the video cameras Incentive A person's name and a phone number to call if they have questions or need to reschedule

Recruiting participants Recruiting International Participants l l l Agency Cultural and behavioral taboos books Translator Punctuality Holiday concern

Recruiting participants Recruiting Special Populations l Children, elderly, disabilities § § § Transportation Escorts Facilities

Recruiting participants Recruitment Methods l l Advertise on community bulletin board sites Create an in-house database Use a recruiting agency Make use of customer contacts

Preparing for your User Requirements Activity l l l Creating a proposal Deciding the duration and timing of your session Recruiting participants Tracking participants Creating a protocol Piloting your activity

Tracking Participants l l l Tax implications Avoid professional participant Create a watch list § § Tax Dishonesty Poor attendance No show-up

Creating a Protocol l l All procedures and their order Act as a checklist for all of the session steps

Piloting your Activity l l Check audio-visual equipment working Clarity of instructions and questions Find bug or glitches Attendee § § Experienced Product team member

Preparing the environment, test materials, and test team. --Pearl Ho