How do you balance usability testing with other HCI methods, such as surveys, interviews, or observations?

1 Know your goals

Before you choose any HCI method, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to learn from your users. What are the main questions you want to answer? What are the assumptions you want to test? What are the outcomes you want to achieve? Depending on your goals, you may need different types of data, such as quantitative, qualitative, or mixed. For example, if you want to measure user satisfaction, you may use a survey with Likert scales. If you want to understand user motivations, you may use an interview with open-ended questions. If you want to compare user performance, you may use a usability test with predefined tasks.

2 Choose your methods

Once you have your goals, you can select the most appropriate HCI methods for your project. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but there are some general guidelines to consider. For example, surveys are good for collecting large-scale and standardized data, but they may not capture the nuances and context of user experience. Interviews are good for exploring user opinions and feelings, but they may be influenced by social desirability and recall bias. Observations are good for capturing user behavior and environment, but they may be intrusive and time-consuming. Usability testing is good for evaluating user performance and satisfaction, but it may not reflect the real-world conditions and scenarios.

3 Mix and match your methods

You don't have to limit yourself to one HCI method. In fact, combining different methods can help you triangulate your data and get a more comprehensive and reliable picture of your users. For example, you can use a survey to identify user segments and needs, then use an interview to dive deeper into user stories and pain points, then use a usability test to validate your design solutions and identify usability issues. You can also use different methods at different stages of your design process, such as using interviews for discovery, usability testing for evaluation, and surveys for feedback.

4 Plan your resources

Balancing usability testing with other HCI methods also requires careful planning of your resources, such as time, budget, and participants. You need to consider how much time and money you can allocate to each method, and how many participants you need to recruit and engage. You also need to consider the trade-offs between quality and quantity, depth and breadth, and speed and accuracy. For example, you may want to use a quick and cheap method, such as a survey, to get a general overview of your users, then use a more detailed and expensive method, such as a usability test, to focus on specific aspects of your design.

5 Analyze and communicate your results

Finally, you need to analyze and communicate your results from different HCI methods in a meaningful and actionable way. You need to synthesize your data from different sources and look for patterns, themes, and insights. You also need to present your findings in a clear and concise way, using visual aids, such as charts, graphs, or screenshots. You need to highlight the key takeaways, recommendations, and implications for your design. You also need to acknowledge the limitations and challenges of your methods, and suggest ways to improve or complement them in the future.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?