Usability Study Best Practices: Setting Yourself Up for Success

A usability study is most effective when participants come from diverse backgrounds and have varying abilities. Their unique life experiences, perspectives, identities, and abilities shape the feedback they provide. The goal is to create designs that work for all users, making diversity in research participants key to gathering valuable insights.

Before conducting a usability study, keep these five best practices in mind: Get comfortable, Put people first, Don’t skip the paperwork, Communicate clearly, and Ask the right questions.

Get Comfortable

Participants give the best feedback when they feel comfortable with the moderator—whether that’s you or a team member. Building rapport early on helps participants open up and engage naturally. Start with small talk to break the ice:

• How’s your day going?
• Did you have any trouble getting here (or logging in)?
• Can you tell me a little about yourself?
• What are some of your favorite hobbies?

Tailor icebreaker questions to your participants. For instance, if working with children, an engaging activity might help set a friendly tone.

Show appreciation by thanking participants for their time and effort. Also, remind them that honest feedback is encouraged—positive or negative—because the goal is to improve the design.

Make sure the study environment is comfortable:

• If in a usability lab, ensure all necessary equipment (screen recorders, eye-tracking devices, etc.) is set up.
• If in a public or home setting, minimize distractions.
• If conducting remotely, clarify recording policies and ensure the tech setup is user-friendly.

Put People First

Treat participants with respect by using their preferred pronouns, pronouncing names correctly, and acknowledging their communication preferences. Small efforts like these create a more inclusive environment.

If working with participants who use interpreters, always address them directly, not the interpreter. This helps capture genuine user feedback and engagement.

Use people-first language, like “person with a disability” instead of “disabled person.” Keep in mind that marginalized communities are often underrepresented in research, leading to designs that may not fully consider their needs.

For example, if designing a kitchen gadget, including left-handed participants in testing could reveal usability challenges you might otherwise miss. Committing to diverse research ensures better product insights and usability for a wider audience.

Don’t Skip the Paperwork

Once participants are comfortable, it’s time to take care of essential paperwork.

• Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA): Ensures participants won’t discuss your product or the study publicly. This protects both confidentiality and intellectual property.
• Recording Consent Forms: Participants need to agree to recordings (audio, video, screen recordings, or written notes). If participants are minors, parental consent is required.

Handling these documents properly builds trust and keeps the research process ethical and transparent.

Communicate Clearly

Start the session by explaining the study’s purpose and what participants will be asked to do. Give them an overview of the session structure and check if they have any concerns before proceeding.

Introduce the think-aloud method, where participants verbalize their thoughts while interacting with the product. This helps researchers capture real-time feedback beyond just observations.

Also, remind participants that they are not being tested—the product is. There are no right or wrong answers, and if they struggle, it’s a sign that the design needs improvement, not them.

If you’re unsure about a participant’s feedback, summarize their thoughts and ask for confirmation. This ensures you accurately understand their experience.

Ask the Right Questions

The way you ask questions directly impacts the insights you uncover. Here are some pro tips:

• Use a consistent set of questions for all participants to keep data comparable.
• Ask open-ended questions instead of yes/no questions. Example: Instead of: “Do you find this feature useful?” Ask: “How do you feel about using this feature?”
• Encourage elaboration. If a participant gives a vague answer, prompt them with “Can you tell me more about that?”
• Ask the same question in different ways to get a clearer picture. Example: Early in the session: “How often do you shop for groceries?” Later: “How many times per week do you visit a grocery store?”
• Avoid leading questions. Instead of asking “Why do you like Feature X?”, try “What do you think about Feature X?” to get unbiased answers.
• Respect participant privacy—never compare responses or mention other participants.

You're Ready to Get Started!

Following these best practices will help you conduct a usability study that yields valuable insights. By making participants comfortable, putting people first, handling paperwork properly, communicating clearly, and asking the right questions, you’ll set yourself up for a successful study.

Now, it’s time to uncover how users truly experience your product!

?? What are some of your go-to best practices for usability studies? Let’s discuss in the comments! #UXResearch #UserExperience #UsabilityTesting #ProductDesign #UXInsights