usabilitystudier

Usability studies are research activities that evaluate how easily and effectively people can use a product, system, or service to complete tasks. In Swedish contexts, the term usabilitystudier is commonly used, but the approach is widely applied across user experience research to understand real interactions and identify barriers to use.

Methods used in usability studies include formative usability testing with representative users, where participants perform typical tasks while researchers observe performance and collect feedback. Other methods include think-aloud protocols, task analysis and scenario-based testing, heuristic evaluation by UX experts, field studies and contextual inquiry, surveys, interviews, and card sorting to inform information architecture.

Key metrics reported in usability studies encompass task success rate, time on task, the number of errors, learnability, and user satisfaction. Qualitative insights from observations, interviews, and open-ended feedback complement quantitative measures, helping to pinpoint root causes of problems and prioritize design improvements.

A typical study cycle includes planning, task design and recruitment, moderated or remote testing, data collection and analysis, and reporting with prioritized findings and actionable recommendations for design changes. Iterative testing is common, with successive rounds refining prototypes based on prior results.

Usability studies support evidence-based design and risk reduction by focusing on user needs and behavior. They are related to broader areas of user research, usability engineering, and UX design, and may vary in rigor from quick formative evaluations to formal summative assessments.