Usability Test Observations Form

Definition

A usability test observations form is a testing work product used to expedite the collection of relevant test data by the test monitor.

Objectives

The typical objectives of a usability test observations form are to:

• Enable a test monitor to easily record his/her observations about a usability test including the test participant's behavior.

Benefits

A usability test observations form typically provides the following benefits:

• It enables the test monitor to collect data as efficiently as is practical.
• The collected data is more complete and reliable.

Contents

The typical contents of a usability test observations form include:

• Objective Observations:
  • Time Durations (e.g., time to complete a task, time to recover from an error)
  • Counts and Rates (e.g., number of errors, number and percentage of tasks completed successfully, number and percentage of times that help was required, number of steps or procedures accidentally skipped)
• Subjective Observations:
  • Opinions and Preferences (e.g., positive and negative references, ratings of various aspects of the work product, explanations and rationales for doing certain things)
  • Recommendations
  • Comments and Observations

Stakeholders

The typical stakeholders of a usability test observations form are:

• Producers: The Test Monitor
• Evaluator: Not Applicable
• Approvers: Not Applicable
• Maintainers: Not Applicable
• Users: User Experience Team

Phases

• Initiation: Completed
• Construction: Completed
• Delivery: Completed
• Usage: Maintained
• Retirement: Archived

Preconditions

A usability test observations form typically can be started if the following preconditions hold:

• The usability testing section of the project test plan is completed.
• The user profile section of the user analysis is completed.
• The user experience team is staffed and trained in usability testing.
• The relevant item under test (document, prototype, or application) is started.

Inputs

The typical inputs to a usability test observations form include:

• Work products:
  • Project test plan for usability test plans.
  • System requirements specification for usability requirements
  • Work product under test
  • Work product under test standards
  • User interface design standards
• Stakeholders:
  • None

Guidelines

• TBD

Conventions

A usability test observations form is constrained by the following conventions:

• Content and Format Standard
• MS Word Template
• XML DTD
• Inspection Checklist

Examples

• Example Usability Test Observations Form