Improve Usability with Task Cards

In the field of UX design and research, incorporating task cards into usability studies can provide a significant boost to study execution and quality. Task cards are individual cards that display the printed task for the study participant to read, which can be presented on paper for in-person studies or on-screen for online usability sessions. By asking participants to read tasks out loud, instead of the researcher reading them, task cards empower participants during a usability study and help to eliminate any unconscious bias or inconsistency between sessions that can happen when a researcher verbally delivers tasks.

Task cards have several advantages, such as engaging participants, course-correcting their interpretation if needed, saving time, and ultimately improving the reliability of study results. Participants can also reference task cards multiple times while performing a task, particularly when tasks are complex.

To make the most of task cards in your usability study, you should begin by writing high-quality tasks that are clear and relevant to participants. You should also select a legible font and appropriate font size to ensure readability and ensure the task card is always accessible to your participants as they work to complete the task. Including a visible card ID number somewhere on the card can help quickly identify and organize tasks at any point during your study.

By following these guidelines and using task cards in your next usability study, you can improve the execution and quality of your study and raise your research game to the next level. Whether your next study is in-person or a moderated remote format, task cards can provide a small but powerful boost to make the study run even more smoothly, like adding a drop of oil to your bike chain. #TaskCardsForUsabilityTesting