Usability II Week 1
This week we learned about coordinating a remote usability study. Remote usability testing allows you to conduct user research with participants in their natural environment using screen-sharing software. Remote testing should be considered when timelines are tight and can prevent in-person testing, the target audience are geographically dispersed, participants need a particular type of machine, or participants may have accessibility issues which require them to use their own software or equipment.
In particular, we learned about Mechanical Turk and Ethnio and the pros and cons each tool has. Mechanical Turk is low cost for large projects, allows for users to be recruited from all over the world, and users with very specific skills can be recruited. However, its disadvantages are it is geared towards a single task completion, not typical usability testing, the pricing model is complicated and in order to get very specific with the screener a user would need to get help from a consultant to find out the price, and most people who would be your participants are not going to be people who would typically use your site. Ethnio has a clear pricing model, it allows for participants to be recruited based on a screener that you build yourself so you get only the participants you want, the participants can be recruited from your own site so you know they are interested in the information you are supplying, and the results are aggregated. The disadvantages are in order to gain participants they do have to come to you or you have to find them there is no recruiting from Ethnio, users to your site may not be happy with a popup or request to take your survey, and this only works if your recruiters are ready and able to conduct the tests because you ask the users when they want to schedule at the time they agree to participate.
