Benefits of Conducting Usability Tests Outside the Laboratory
Introduction
Abstract vs. Realistic Testing Scenarios
In the realm of usability testing, it's crucial to understand the inherent artificiality of laboratory settings. While laboratories provide controlled environments to analyze user behavior, they often remove real-world contextual factors that can profoundly influence how people interact with digital products. This article delves into the benefits of conducting usability tests outside of a laboratory to better understand realistic user interactions.
The Artificiality of Laboratory Environments
Lab Environment Limitations
The laboratory setting, whether it’s a fully equipped usability lab or a corporate meeting room, is designed to minimize external influences. However, this very design can introduce a significant bias. The sterile and controlled environment changes users' behaviors, an effect that psychologists and anthropologists widely acknowledge. Known as the observer effect, the simple knowledge that one is being observed can alter behavior in subtle yet profound ways.
Testing in Context
Usability tests conducted outside the lab allow testers to observe users in real-life scenarios. For instance, designing a fitness app for runners may need to account for scenarios like a parking lot with a sweaty touch screen, rain, or a leash while running. Similarly, online banking interactions can vary widely, with users needing to quickly manage finances while waiting in a grocery store line or dealing with technical issues. These real-life contexts provide invaluable insights into how users actually interact with the product.
Real-World Examples
Fitness App Design
Consider the design of a fitness app for runners. While a laboratory environment might simulate rain or extreme heat, the true test of the app is when a runner is using it in a parking lot, sweaty and under the stress of running a race. The user needs to navigate the app with a touch screen that may be affected by sweat, and they might be holding a water bottle and a leash.
Online Banking
Online banking requires a user to be in a specific mindset, often imagined as a comfortable home office setting. However, real-world scenarios are far more chaotic. A parent at a grocery store with kids, with a card declined and needing to make an urgent transfer, is faced with a time-pressured and stressful situation. The app must work seamlessly in this environment, where the user is surrounded by people and must focus while managing external stresses.
Incident Logging Form for Inspectors
Inspection forms for transmission line or pipeline inspectors are another example. These forms are often used by ruggedized devices in harsh, outdoor environments with extreme weather conditions, limited visibility, and heavy gloves. The form must be user-friendly and efficient despite minimal input devices and complex field conditions.
Office Environment
Even in the office, the environment is far from sterile. Multiple applications, constant notifications, and physical distractions like noises and interruptions all affect user behavior. A user might be on multiple monitors, with news alerts and social media notifications vying for attention. Testers miss out on these contextual factors even in the most sophisticated lab environments.
The Benefits of Conducting Tests Outside the Lab
Real-World Interaction and Feedback
Conducting usability tests outside the lab allows testers to interact with users in their natural environments. Users are bombarded with real-life distractions and stresses, which can reveal problems that arise under real-world conditions. For instance, a fitness app might face issues during a run or a bank app might struggle at a checkout lane. This direct interaction provides a wealth of data that can be missed in a lab environment.
Cost and Time Efficiency
Tests outside the lab are often more cost-effective and time-efficient. Creating a realistic lab environment is costly and time-consuming, whereas observing users in their natural environment requires no setup or adaptation. Additionally, these tests can be done iteratively and on a smaller scale, allowing for quicker feedback and adjustments.
Conclusion
Conducting usability tests outside of a laboratory environment provides a truer representation of real-world user interactions. It allows for a deeper understanding of how users behave and interact with digital products under real-life conditions. This can lead to more user-friendly and effective designs, ultimately improving the overall user experience.