Sins of a UX Researcher

Let’s face it; while moderating a usability test or research study even the most experienced UX researcher can get sloppy and make mistakes. Sharing our mistakes and what we’ve learned from them is one of the best ways we can foster growth in this community. Over the last 13 years in this industry, I’ve moderated 100+ research studies and, more importantly, I’ve made a lot of mistakes and learned from them. I invite you to come and learn from my own moderating mistakes and possibly share some of your own during this fun and interactive session!

1. Sins
of a UX Researcher
Kyle Soucy | @kylesoucy
www.usableinterface.com

2. Belief...

3. Reality...

4. We’re human.
We make mistakes.
Sins

6. Not knowing the product
you are researching
1
#

8. Not knowing the screener
and who has been recruited
2
#

10. Not conducting
a dry run
3
#

12. Asking
leading questions
4
#

14. Asking if a feature
would ever be used
5
#

16. Not asking
open-ended questions
6
#

18. Not staying neutral
7
#

20. Asking
design questions
8
#

22. Asking a question that has
already been answered
9
#

24. Losing focus
10
#

26. Letting participants
leave early
11
#

28. Not properly preparing
for remote research
12
#

30. Not randomizing
tasks and/or prototypes
13
#

32. Forgetting to record
14
#

34. Not conducting
an observer debrief
15
#

38. Learn more...
-
Moderating Usability Tests
by Joe Dumas & Beth Loring
-
Paper Prototyping
by Carolyn Snyder
-
Interviewing Users
by Steve Portigal
-
Paper: What Do Usability
Evaluators Do in Practice? An
Explorative Study of Think-
Aloud Testing
by Mie Norgaard and Kasper
Hornbaek

39. http://bit.ly/Xw28Bz

40. www.usableinterface.com
@kylesoucy
Thank you.
/usableinterface