THN Design
Trent Nguyen · Portfolio
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All research resources Research Method · Evaluative / Usability · facilitated, qualitative

Moderated Usability Testing

Understanding why users struggle. Rich behavioral and verbal data from facilitated task completion. Essential when you need to understand intent and decision-making.

Use When
Evaluative / Usability
Time Needed
1-2 weeks: a few days to write tasks and recruit, 1-2 days to field 5-8 sessions, then a few days to synthesize.
Type
facilitated, qualitative
Category
Evaluative / Usability
Evaluative / Usability · Use when you have something to test.
Moderated Usability Testing
facilitated, qualitative
When to Use It

Where this fits in the process.

Once you have something to test, a prototype, live product, or competitor experience. Mid-to-late design, before or after launch.

Time Investment

How long it takes.

1-2 weeks: a few days to write tasks and recruit, 1-2 days to field 5-8 sessions, then a few days to synthesize.

What You'll Need

Before you start.

A testable prototype or product, task scenarios, a facilitator, and 5-8 recruited participants.

What It's Good For

The kinds of answers you get.

Understanding why users struggle. Rich behavioral and verbal data from facilitated task completion. Essential when you need to understand intent and decision-making.

Watch Out For

Where it falls short.

Time-intensive. Facilitator presence can influence behavior. Not scalable for large numbers of participants.

Template

Speed this method up with a ready-to-use Usability Test Script template.

Download Usability Test Script
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