Types of usability testing
There are different types of usability tests that you can use depending on your assessment purpose, whether you want to develop an instructional technology or evaluate an existing technology for adoption, expansion, or continuation.
| Assessment purpose | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Usability tests | Description | Development | Evaluation |
| Explorative | Used early in product development to assess the effectiveness and usability of a preliminary design or prototype, as well as users’ thought processes and conceptual understanding. |
X |
|
| Assessment | Used midway in product development or as an overall usability test for technology evaluation. Evaluates real-time trials of the technology to determine the satisfaction, effectiveness, and overall usability. |
X | X |
| Comparative | Compares two or more instructional technology products or designs and distinguishes the strengths and weaknesses of each. |
X | X |
