Remote usability testingdenotes a situationwhere “the evaluators are separated in spaceand/or time from users”Thisdefinitionemphasizestwogeneral types of methods: synchronousandasynchronous.
Reducecosts, depending on the tool youuse
It is easierto get participantstovolunteerbecausethey do not have totravel.
Fewerlogisticsto manage and no needtoworryabout no-shows andgetting last minute replacements
Partial automated results faster resultsEasier to conduct multiple small tests
Both quantitativeand (some) qualitative dataQuantitative:Taks-completionrateTime on taskTime on pageClickstreampathsSatisfaction ratings or opinion rankingsQualitative:Most of these tools canalsocapturequalitative feedback as users complete theirtasks - such as users’ suggestionsandcomments
Someparticipantsmayonlybeinterested in earning the honorarium you’veprovided as an incentive.You have little or no contact and thus control over the motivation of participants
Nothing beats watchingparticipants in real time andbeingabletoaskprobingquestionsaboutwhatthey are doing as it’s happening.
Whatparticipants report on surveyscanbevery different in comparisontowhattheyactually do.
It’s possibleforparticipantstothinkthey’vesuccessfullycompleted a taskwhentheyhaven’t
Does it matter ifittooksomeonelongerto complete a task?