What are the most common mistakes to avoid during UX testing?

During the UX testing - many still evaluate based on their personal preference as compared as to what they have normally experienced using heavy traffic sites. Emulation of these sites are important especially when looking at Geo targetting traffic as there are always cultural and graphical inputs which are important to ensure that items such as Text Colouring as well as icon which is essential in understanting the user flow and where we want to lead the users to.

UX that is user experience we all know, I think it should consider following things, 1. Understand correct target audiences(age/geo and much more parameters). 2. Users experienced with similar competitive app(e.g. Rapido users should have experience of OLA/Uber apps) should be preferred. 3. KPIs defined across this part should be well communicated to testing group. 4. Are you simplifying things than competitors? Answer should come yes to this.

Make sure that you understand your target market and the different types of people who will be most likely to use the application so that you can suitably match your UX testing to them. If your application involves speech recognition, make sure to select testers with a wide variety of speech patterns and accents. Finally, don't forget to accommodate people with disabilities such as low vision and hearing loss.

Before UX testing make sure following items: 1. Validate in iPhone and iPad device compatibility. 2. Check the screen orientation horizontal and vertical. 3. Multiple screen resolution, Smaller screen and Large screen 4. Compare design once again with design document(Figma) 5. Verify all scenarios success and failure method. 6. Make sure validate all kind of user level access

Common mistakes to avoid during UX testing include: inadequate planning and preparation, biased participant selection, unclear objectives, leading questions, insufficient feedback analysis, ignoring usability issues, disregarding user preferences, and neglecting iterative improvements based on test results.

Identifying the test data, users and the expected user journey is also part of planning which should be considered. If the wrong user group is testing the application interface, the results will be skewed and May not achieve the desired outcome.

Testing your mobile app with the wrong users can yield biased or misleading feedback, failing to accurately represent your target audience's needs, preferences, and behaviors. To mitigate this risk, thorough user research is essential, culminating in the creation of user personas that encapsulate your ideal users' characteristics. Subsequently, recruiting and screening participants based on these personas and predefined criteria—such as age, gender, location, device, and experience—ensures alignment with your target demographic. Additionally, refraining from testing with friends, family, or colleagues is advisable, as their feedback may lack objectivity or honesty.

This is crucial because gathering feedback from users who do not represent the target audience can result in misleading insights and ineffective design improvements. Consequently, designers may make decisions based on erroneous assumptions, leading to suboptimal user experiences.

Instead of saying wrong users, I will prefer to say wrong set of users because you should expect some testing at the hands of unintended users so that application response in such a situation is tested appropriately

Testing with users who do not represent the target audience can lead to inaccurate insights and skewed results. It's crucial to recruit participants who match the demographics, behaviors, and characteristics of the intended user base. Testing with the wrong users may overlook critical usability issues or misinterpret user feedback, hindering the effectiveness of UX testing.

Consider a game of charades where the clues are muddled and unclear. Crafting questions for your UX testing is similar to orchestrating a smooth and enjoyable game. Keep your inquiries clear, concise, and straightforward, avoiding unintentional detours or confusion. Your participants will certainly appreciate the clarity, leading to more genuine and insightful responses. It's like providing them with a well-lit path to express their thoughts, ensuring a delightful and constructive interaction.

Relying solely on questions is not advisable. Direct user or tester feedback can be biased. Your testing process should gather data to support any decisions made.

The way questions are phrased during UX testing can influence participants' responses and skew the results. Avoid asking leading questions that suggest a desired answer or bias participants' perceptions. Similarly, ensure that questions are clear, concise, and free from ambiguity to elicit accurate and meaningful feedback from users.

As a UX specialist, I emphasize the importance of asking clear, neutral questions during UX testing. Leading or confusing questions can skew responses and hinder valuable insights. Instead of suggestive inquiries like "Do you like this feature?" or "How easy was it to use this app?", opt for open-ended and specific ones. For instance, ask "What did you like or dislike about this feature?" or "How did you feel while using this app?" This approach encourages users to express their opinions and experiences freely, facilitating more authentic and actionable feedback.

One of the most common mistakes to avoid during UX testing is asking leading or ambiguous questions. These kinds of inquiries may unintentionally sway participants' answers, distorting the validity and precision of the input obtained. While unclear questions might irritate participants and prevent important insights, leading questions may predispose users to particular points of view. It's crucial to ask unbiased, understandable questions that let consumers share their experiences and opinions to preserve the testing process's integrity. Open-ended and easily understood conversations allow testers to extract insightful input that precisely guides UX enhancements and increases overall user satisfaction.

Imagine watching a film without subtitles, missing out on the subtle nuances and emotions that add depth to the story. Observing user behaviour during UX testing is similar to turning on subtitles; it reveals the complexities and the details, enriching the overall experience. It's about going beyond verbal feedback and capturing the unspoken cues and gestures that reveal valuable information about how users interact with your product. This keen observation becomes the key to gaining a deeper understanding of your users' needs.

While user feedback is valuable, solely relying on self-reported data may overlook important insights into user behavior. Observing users as they interact with the product provides valuable context and reveals usability issues that users may not articulate verbally. Incorporate observational techniques, such as eye-tracking, screen recording, and task completion metrics, to complement user feedback and gain a comprehensive understanding of the user experience.

One of the most frequent errors to avoid in UX testing is failing to notice user behaviour. Ignoring important information about user preferences and usability problems might result from a lack of attentive monitoring of user interactions with the product. Real-time user behaviour observation gives testers crucial information and makes it easier to see trends, problems, and development opportunities. Testers can find subtle aspects of the user experience by actively observing how users engage with various components and travel through the interface. These characteristics may not be seen through feedback alone. Setting user behaviour observation as a top priority helps to create designs that are easier to use and more intuitive.

Observing user behavior in mobile apps for UX testing - Clear Goals: What aspects of the UX you want to test? - Recruit Participants: Diverse group that represents your target audience - Methods: Lab testing, remote testing, field studies - Tools: Screen recording, heatmaps, analytics, eye-tracking software - Create Scenarios: Realistic tasks for users to complete interacting with the app - Conduct Testing: Participants use the app while thinking aloud. Observe and take notes. - Collect Data: Gather quantitative data and qualitative insights - Analyse Findings: Identify patterns, pain points, and improvements - Iterate: Use insights to improve app's design and functionality - Repeat: Test, analyze, refine to ensure the best user experience

Observing user helps in seeking response/ feedback from users other sensory organs which is very useful in specific situations to understand distractions

Firstly, ensure that you're testing your product with the target audience or user personas. Testing with the wrong audience can provide misleading feedback. Users interact with products in real-life situations, so it's crucial to incorporate real-world scenarios into your testing process. Avoid creating artificial environments that don't reflect how users would actually use the product.

As a digital marketer, I've experienced numerous instances where lack of access to a variety of devices for the testing team resulted in many user experience errors going unnoticed. This limitation often led to overlooking critical issues that could have significantly impacted the overall usability and effectiveness of the mobile application. Therefore, it's imperative to ensure that the testing team has access to a diverse range of devices to thoroughly assess the app's performance across different platforms and screen sizes.

Also important is considering environmental conditions and it's impact on the user response. Often this is missed and it adds to the frustration of user

With UX testing, I think the goal should be to "break" the UI. There is a tendency to develop a bias with the UI and know what it can and can't do. The end-user or customer will use the application to fit their needs so it's best to approach testing with the user in mind.

Simulate Real-World Conditions: Test your app in environments that mirror real-life usage scenarios. Match User Personas and Scenarios: Tailor testing conditions to fit the habits and environments of your target audience. Account for Variable Factors: Include variables like network speed, battery life, and ambient noise in your testing parameters. Test Across Different Situations: Ensure the app performs well in varied contexts, such as public transportation, cafes, or outdoors. Consider Environmental Interruptions: Factor in potential disruptions like calls or notifications during usage. Evaluate Usability Under Stress: Check app performance under less-than-ideal conditions, such as low battery or poor internet connectivity.

Consider having a favourite recipe but never experimenting with that secret ingredient that could elevate it to new heights. Iterating and improving in your UX testing is the spice that adds flavour and depth to the entire process. Don't settle for the basics; instead, approach it as a continuous journey of enhancement based on valuable feedback. Like a skilled chef refining their culinary masterpiece, you too can refine your product, ensuring that each iteration brings it closer to the pinnacle of user satisfaction. It's about cultivating a mindset of perpetual improvement, making your UX testing a dynamic and ever-evolving adventure for everyone involved.

Reasons of not iterating and improving in UX testing: - Lack of Time or Resources: Sometimes, there's pressure to push the app to market quickly, leading to a rushed testing phase without sufficient time allocated for iteration - Ignoring Feedback: Teams might receive feedback from users or from testing sessions but fail to prioritize or act upon it - Failing to Adapt to User Behavior: Users can exhibit behavior patterns that are unexpected or not initially considered during the design phase - Limited Testing Scope: Sometimes, testing might focus on only a subset of users or scenarios, leading to a skewed understanding of the overall user experience - Not Using A/B Testing: Involves comparing two versions to see which one performs better

UX testing should not be viewed as a one-time activity but as an iterative process of continuous improvement. Failing to iterate based on test results and user feedback can result in missed opportunities to enhance the user experience and address usability issues. Incorporate a feedback loop into the design and development process, where test findings inform iterative design updates and refinements to create a more user-centered product.

1. Ignoring Accessibility: Neglecting to test for accessibility can lead to excluding users with disabilities. Ensure your UX testing considers diverse needs, including those with visual, auditory, or motor impairments. 2. Overlooking Mobile Responsiveness: Failing to test across various devices and screen sizes may result in a poor user experience on certain platforms. Ensure your design is responsive and functions seamlessly across different devices. 3. Limited Device and Browser Coverage: Testing on a narrow range of devices and browsers may overlook issues that users on different platforms might encounter. Broaden your testing coverage to ensure a consistent experience for all users.

During UX testing, several common mistakes can compromise the validity of your results and the overall effectiveness of the testing process. Here are a couple: Relying Solely on Quantitative Data: While metrics are important, relying solely on quantitative data can miss the nuances of user experience. Combine quantitative with qualitative feedback for a comprehensive view. Ignoring Negative Feedback: Disregarding critical or negative feedback can lead to missed opportunities for improvement. Embrace all feedback as a chance to enhance your product.

Keep it simple. Remember that your audience is broad and full of many different backgrounds. Building UX is all about knowledge transfer to your audience. If you have an audience that knows how to use your product really well it means you’re doing something right.

Don't ask hypothetical questions about future actions; instead, observe actual behaviour or inquire about past experiences for more reliable insights.

In addition to the mentioned points, consider factors such as sample size and diversity, test environment setup, selection of appropriate testing methods (e.g., usability testing, A/B testing, heuristic evaluation), and integration of qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques. Tailor the UX testing approach to the specific needs and constraints of the project to maximize its effectiveness in uncovering actionable insights for improving the user experience.