Introduction
This usability testing is intended to assess the user experience of a mock-up of a Todo application. The testing aims to pinpoint any possible usability issues and gather feedback on the overall usability of the application. The ToDo app being tested is a mockup of a task management application that allows users to create and organize their tasks intuitively. The application provides task creation, removal, priority adjustment, and task completion tracking options. The testing involved participants to complete predefined tasks using the application. Their feedback was collected to improve the usability of the application further.
Methodology
As part of the usability testing for the ToDo app, I have created a methodology that outlines the process we will use to conduct the testing. To begin with, I have created a mock-up of the app as part of the previous assignment, which I will use during the testing. The mock-up includes all of the app’s essential features and is designed to replicate the actual app as closely as possible.
Our methodology involves using the think-aloud technique during the testing. This technique requires participants to verbalize their thoughts and actions as they navigate the app. I will also be capturing audio and video of the testing using Screen-pal to analyze the user’s behavior, which will help us identify areas of the app that need improvement. Before the usability testing, the author has taken verbal consent from the participants. The usability testing consent and instructions script are in the appendix section.
To test the app’s usability, I selected the following two participants with varying levels of experience:
Participant 1
Age: 13
Gender: Female
Occupation: Middle schooler
Experience with ToDo Apps: Beginner
Frequency of ToDo App Usage: Rarely
Preferred Platform: Web
Additional Notes: Participant 1 rarely uses ToDo apps and relies mainly on the paper version of a Todo task organizer.
Participant 2
Age: 19
Gender: Male
Occupation: College student
Experience with ToDo Apps: Intermediate
Frequency of ToDo App Usage: Daily
Preferred Platform: Web/Mobile
Additional Notes: Participant 2 uses ToDo apps daily and relies mainly on Google Keep to organize day-to-day work.
During the testing, I will monitor the participants’ performance and collect data on how long it takes them to complete each task, what difficulties they encounter, and how they feel about the app’s overall usability. This data will help the author identify the areas of the app that need improvement and make the necessary changes to enhance the app’s usability.
Observations
Usability Testing
| Observations | Participant 1 | Participant 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Add task(s) | Was easily able to add 4 chores and tasks | Helps you stay organized.
Was easily able to add the 6 tasks |
| Remove a task | Was able to delete 1 task | Was able to delete 1 task |
| Prioritized the tasks | Used the up and down button to prioritize the task | Used the up and down button to prioritize the task |
| Edit a task | Was able to edit the name of the task | Didn’t test this functionality |
| Mark the task complete | Didn’t test this functionality | Didn’t test this functionality |
| Search a task | Was able to search for a task | Didn’t test this functionality |
| Use audio to add a task | Found this feature interesting and was able to add a task using the audio | Added 1 task with audio |
| Clear all tasks | Cleared all the tasks | Cleared all the tasks |
Post-Usability testing feedback
| Observations | Participant 1 | Participant 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Rating (1-10 scale) | 8 | 8.5 |
| Improvements |
|
|
| Screenshots |
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Recommendations
Based on the identified improvement, here are some actionable recommendations/feedback to improve the application’s usability, functionality, and user experience:
- Add a theme or background: To make the application more appealing, consider adding a theme or background that aligns with the genre of the participant. This will make the application more visually engaging and help users feel more connected to the platform.
- Improve the edit functionality: Rather than relying on an edit button, the edit functionality can be improved by allowing users to click on the task to edit it. This will save users time and streamline the editing process.
- Prioritize functionality improvement: The prioritization functionality is useful but can be further improved by adding up/down arrows instead of buttons. Additionally, consider adding the ability to add a day/time for prioritization as another means for users to sort and manage their tasks effectively.
Learnings
I personally interacted with the participants during my testing process to help them record their experiences using Screen Pal. This involved setting up a face-to-face meeting to ensure the participant’s experience was accurately captured. However, if one wishes to use Screen Pal offline and still work with the participant, one must use a video application such as Zoom or Teams.
Usability testing may seem simple, but it requires a lot of practice to develop open-ended questions that don’t bias the participant towards specific app features. I made a conscious effort to avoid using app-specific terms such as “button” or “tab” in some places, but in other cases, I had to use these terms to ensure that the participant understood what was being referred to.
In a more realistic usability testing scenario, I would select participants based on the persona for the application. This would involve ensuring that the participants are representative of the target audience for the application and have the relevant characteristics that would make them the ideal users of the app.
Overall, usability testing requires attention to detail and precision to ensure that the results are accurate and reliable.
Appendix
Usability Testing Consent and Instructions
Introduction and Purpose
Hello! Thank you for joining me today. My name is Afshan Naaz, and I am in my role as a UX Researcher from Georgia State University. Today, I’m here to learn more about how people use an app to track or record their daily tasks and chores.
Voluntary Participation
Before proceeding, I want to emphasize that your participation in this usability test is voluntary. You are not obligated to continue if you feel uncomfortable or decide it’s not for you. Your decision to participate or withdraw will not have any consequences whatsoever. ScreenPal will record your interactions with the application throughout the test. ScreenPal captures both your screen activity and any audio commentary you provide. This allows us to closely analyze your interactions and better understand your thought process as you navigate the app.
Are you comfortable moving forward under these terms?
Overview of Procedures
My role here is to listen to your thoughts and experiences as you use the app. Your feedback will help me understand what works well and what could be improved. There are no right or wrong answers – we’re simply interested in your honest opinions. By no means is this test for you, but rather, it is for the app.
So, feel free to explore the app as you normally would, and don’t hesitate to share any thoughts or questions you have along the way. Your input is incredibly valuable and will directly influence how we shape the future of this app. As you use the app, please speak aloud so I can understand your thought process.
Next, I’ll present you with a series of tasks to complete using the application. These tasks are designed to simulate real-world scenarios and will help us understand how intuitive and user-friendly the application is. You’ll be asked to create a new task, set a reminder, and mark tasks as complete.
Please feel free to ask any questions or seek clarification at any point during the test. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve the usability of the application.
The app can be accessed using the following URL – https://afshannaaz-todo-app.w3spaces.com/todo.html
Confidentiality
I assure you that all information shared during this usability test will be kept confidential. Your privacy is of utmost importance to us. Any data collected, including your interactions with the application and feedback, will be used solely for research purposes and will not be shared with anyone outside our research team.
Instructions
Imagine you are a student or professional with a busy schedule, and you’ve decided to use an app to help you stay organized. Today, we’ll test this app to see how well it meets your needs.
- Task 1: How would you go about making a note of all the tasks or chores you need to perform:
- Task 2: If you have to make changes to the existing tasks or chores, how would you do about:
- Task 3: How would you keep track of completed tasks or chores:
- Task 4: How would you organize these tasks?
- Task 5: Can you search for a task or chore?
- Task 6: Does the app provide another way to record the tasks or chores?
Closing Questions
- Share your overall impression of the app’s interface and design.
- How would you rate this application on a scale of 1-10?
- Were you able to complete the tasks easily?
- Did you face any challenges?
- Is there anything specific you liked or disliked about the Todo app?