In the following list, we group together some of our articles and videos on topics related to qualitative usability testing. Within each section, the resources are shown in recommended reading order. 

Qualitative Usability Testing: The Method

In a usability-testing session, a researcher (called a “facilitator” or a “moderator”) asks a participant to perform tasks, usually using one or more specific user interfaces. While the participant completes each task, the researcher observes the participant’s behavior and listens for feedback.

If you’re totally new to usability testing, we recommend you explore the following resources in order. If you have some prior experience, feel free to pick a subtopic and start there.

Number

Link

Format

Description

1

Usability Testing 101

Article

A basic introduction to the concept of qualitative usability testing

2

User Testing: Why & How 

Video

A short explanation of why you’d want to conduct a usability test (sometimes called “user testing”) and how these tests are typically performed

3

How to Setup a Desktop Usability Test

Video

The equipment typically used for in-person usability testing (on desktop/laptop or mobile devices) and how to arrange that equipment

4

How to Set Up a Mobile Usability Test 

Video

5

Usability Testing for Content

Video

Tips for using usability testing to evaluate content

6

Quantitative vs. Qualitative Usability Tests 

 

Article

How different types of study goals inform the setup of usability tests

Participants

This list of resources covers:

  • Why the participants (people who participate in your study) you recruit are so important
  • How to recruit participants
  • How many people to recruit for your study 
  • Whether or not it’s okay to use the same participant in multiple studies

Number

Link

Format

Description

7

Usability Testing 101

Article

A basic introduction to the concept of usability testing

8

1st Pillar of Usability Testing: Typical Users

Video

Why having realistic (“typical”) users is critical to your research

9

Recruiting Test Participants for Usability Studies 

Article

Tips for finding people and convincing them to participate

10

How Many Test Users in a Usability Study? 

Article

Why we recommend conducting qualitative usability testing with about 5 participants per user group 

11

Usability Testing with 5 Users: Design Process 

Video

More detail about the logic behind the 5-participant recommendation

12

Usability Testing with 5 Users: ROI Criteria 

Video

13

Usability Testing with 5 Users: Information Foraging 

Video

14

Employees as Usability-Test Participants 

Article

When it’s okay to use coworkers as usability-testing participants

15

Using Usability-Test Participants Multiple Times 

Video

Using the same participants for multiple usability tests

Tasks

This list of resources covers:

  • Why we need to write usability-testing tasks carefully
  • What makes a good task
  • How to write and order good tasks 

Number

Link

Format

Description

16

2nd Pillar of Usability Testing: Appropriate Tasks

Video

Why task instructions are so important

17

Turning User Goals into Task Scenarios for Usability Testing 

Article

How to decide which tasks you might want to write

18

Writing Tasks for Quantitative and Qualitative Usability Studies

Article

How writing tasks for qualitative usability testing differs from writing tasks for quantitative studies

19

Eyetracking Shows How Task Scenarios Influence Where People Look

Video

An illustration of how the exact way you write your task will influence your user’s behavior

20

How to Maximize Insights in User Testing: Stepped User Tasks

Article

The stepped task strategy — starting with open-ended tasks and then moving to directed, focused tasks

21

Write Better Qualitative Usability Tasks: Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid

Article

The most common task-writing mistakes and how avoid them

Facilitating a Usability Test

This list of resources covers:

  • The importance of having an experienced facilitator
  • How you improve your own facilitation skills
  • Encouraging participants to think out loud
  • How to handle observers

Number

Link

Format

Description

22

3rd Pillar of Usability Testing: Skilled Facilitator

Video

Why it’s important to have an experienced facilitator run the test

23

User Testing Facilitation Techniques 

Video

Some useful techniques for facilitating usability testing

24

Talking with Participants During a Usability Test 

Article

How to communicate with participants without influencing or distracting them from the study

25

Thinking Aloud: The #1 Usability Tool 

Article

Why thinking out loud (sometimes called the “think-aloud protocol”) is useful

26

Team Members Behaving Badly During Usability Tests 

Article

How to handle observers — people who watch your study

Remote Usability Testing

This list of resources covers remote usability testing. There are two primary types of remote usability testing:

  • Remote moderated usability testing is conducted synchronously. The participant and facilitator meet virtually, often using video conferencing apps like Zoom. 
  • Remote unmoderated usability testing is conducted asynchronously — the researcher sets up the tasks and instructions in a testing platform, and the participant performs the tasks on their own while recording a video.

Number

Link

Format

Description

27

Remote Usability Tests: Moderated and Unmoderated 

 

Article

An introduction and comparison of these two types of remote usability testing

28

Remote Moderated Usability Tests: How and Why to Do Them 

 

Article

When it’s a good idea to use moderated instead of unmoderated tested and how to conduct a remote moderated study

29

Remote Unmoderated User Tests: How and Why to Do Them 

Article

When it’s a good idea to use unmoderated instead of moderated testing and how to conduct a remote unmoderated study

30

Tools for Unmoderated Usability Testing 

Article

Tips for choosing among the many unmoderated testing tools and a spreadsheet comparing popular tools

Special Usability Testing Studies or User Groups

Sometimes we need to modify our methodology when we’re testing with special groups of users or within special contexts. These resources cover some common special situations you might encounter.

Number

Link

Format

Description

31

International Usability Testing 

Article

Language and cultural challenges related to testing with people who live in different countries 

32

Usability Testing with Minors 

Article

Modifying the testing setup to make teens and children comfortable and focused during the study

33

Conducting Usability Testing with Real Users’ Real Data 

 

Article

Extra steps needed to ensure the participants’ comfort, privacy, and security in studies  involving personal information (particularly health or financial information) 

34

How to Conduct Usability Studies for Accessibility 

Report

How to adapt usability-testing practices to test with participants who use assistive technology (This report isn’t free, unlike the other resources listed in this study guide.)

Courses

NN/g offers the following hands-on, in-depth courses: