Usability-study is a research method aimed at analyzing the usability of a technical product (usually an interface) for the purposes of its users [9]. This research is aimed at assessing three principal metrics: efficiency, productivity, and user satisfaction with the product. As an integral part of the UX research methodology, the present method allows taking a look at the product from the users’ point of view and understanding whether it meets their expectations.
Almost any assessment process of these parameters includes collecting and processing data on the interaction with users, their analysis, and interpretation of the findings on which recommendations on improving the product are made [1]. Testing takes place in laboratories, where participants are selected to be as similar as possible and given specially designed realistic tasks. The main postulate is as follows: «The focus should be on what user does, not what he or she says» [8]. To find the most gross mistakes in the product, only 5 people are enough, and later the analysis can be supplemented with additional testing.
There is great variability in the methods of conducting a usability-study depending on the purpose of the study as well as opportunities for participation of users and researchers. Depending on the researcher’s participation they can be divided into moderated (the moderator gives tasks and monitors the testing process) and unmoderated (the researcher collects data indirectly and does not participate in the testing process). Depending on the users’ engagement the testing can be in-person (both the respondent and the researcher are in the same room, usually in a specialized laboratory) or extra-mural (the respondent participates in the study from home or their workplace). Depending on the purpose of the usabilitystudy it can be exploratory (conducted at the product development stage), preliminary (conducted at the finished product stage to evaluate the performance of its main parameters), and comparative (conducted to compare new and old versions or two competing products). usability-study includes card sorting, professional evaluation, polling, heuristics study, self-reporting protocols, A/B testing, eye pupil tracking, reviews, tree view testing, and so on [7].