Types of User/Task Analysis

• Codiscovery interviews—two users are tested at the same time. We use this method when a project needs to test a large number of people in a short amount of time or when the scenarios more closely parallel anticipated user behavior. The shared experience during testing can also lead to more complete reporting of each participant’s thoughts and actions. They are more likely to elaborate on problems they are having as part of a shared problem-solving process.
• Online card sorting—users enter a Web site that lists all the content types and labels that will make up the organization of the site. Users can group these pieces of content into categories they create, providing feedback for the information architecture of the system. Another benefit of this approach is that the burden on participants is relatively low, and responses are available to the client and usability testers in real time.
• Site visits—Macro usability staff interact with users directly as they use the current system, similar systems, or perform daily tasks in their real-life environment. Also known as contextual inquiry, this method is helpful when task-driven behavior or the user environment is unclear, or a project merits a baseline analysis before any initial design has been created.
• Web server log analysis—Macro reviews the activity of users on a Web site, tracking the aggregation of how users entered the site, what they clicked on while they were there, and how and when they left the site.
• Lab-based user testing—usability professionals sit down with users and videotape their actions as they attempt to perform specific tasks using the Web site or system. Macro typically uses a “think aloud” protocol, which asks users to talk through their expectations and thoughts as they interact with the Web site.
• Web-based surveys—Macro asks targeted users about their needs, tasks, and thoughts as they relate to current or proposed Web sites. FormMagician^TM, Macro’s proprietary product, lets us create online surveys on the fly and supports a variety of question types, including multiple choice, yes and no, comment boxes, and tables.

healthfinder® Usability Testing
Macro conducted usability testing of the popular healthfinder® gateway Web site for the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. We recruited target audience members to answer pretest and post-test questionnaires and to perform tasks using the healthfinder® Web site, while we observed via video camera. The second phase of testing followed a similar pattern with participants using a redesigned site that incorporated changes based on the results of the first test. This testing phase also included analysis from three reviewers as well as comments gathered from mall intercepts. Our in-depth analysis of site usability guided the final redesign of healthfinder®.