Designing for granular feedback
In the realm of usability testing, task design is a pivotal element that significantly influences the outcome of the study. One design approach that often comes under my radar is the “Hansel & Gretel task” approach; tasks that are broken down into smaller, more digestible steps to lead participants through a predefined journey. This method can be helpful in gaining a deeper understanding of user interactions or comprehension at each stage but risks oversimplifying tasks and masking usability issues.
Consider a usability test for a third-party TV app, where participants are required to sign in and go through an onboarding journey. A Hansel & Gretel task approach would guide participants step by step — from launching the app and signing in, to navigating through the onboarding screens, with the moderator interrupting participants after each mini-task for feedback and then prompting them to move to the next step. This may look something like: “Please can you show me how you would enter your details” and then “Please show me how you would continue from here” as a simple example.
This method can be particularly beneficial when clients or project leaders seek a deeper understanding of individual screens. It helps dissect the user interaction at each stage, ensuring that the design at every touchpoint is comprehended accurately by the users.
The risks of oversimplifying tasks
This segmented approach presents a significant concern: the risk of oversimplifying the user journey, which can potentially unveil a misleading user experience. By dissecting the task, each step may become more apparent or easier for participants compared to a scenario where they navigate the journey uninterrupted. The moderator could also draw attention to otherwise overlooked elements. This dissection can mask critical usability issues that might only surface in a more realistic, seamless user interaction.
Another issue arises when attempting to measure the experience, either across different rounds of iteration or within a single round of testing. The measurement of how quickly users can complete tasks (efficiency/time to complete) will become challenging. The step-by-step guidance inherent in the Hansel & Gretel approach can lessen the error rate, potentially obscuring the true picture of system pitfalls. Likewise, the segmented steps might yield a higher task success rate than what might be observed in a more realistic, uninterrupted task scenario. The artificial easiness created by the step-by-step guidance could lead to inaccurate measurements of user satisfaction.
The Hansel & Gretel task approach often arises from stakeholders wanting a granular understanding of user comprehension at each stage. At the outset of the project, discuss the objectives of the test and what outcomes you need, and highlight these pitfalls to stakeholders, offering alternative approaches that could provide a broader and more genuine insight into the user’s journey.
Balancing specific feedback and realistic experiences in testing
There are ways to blend the need for a realistic user journey with the desire for detailed insights on individual screens. Ultimately, if breaking it down, each sub-task should hold significance, contributing to the overall objective without leading the participant excessively. It’s a delicate balance between providing structure and maintaining the authenticity of the user’s journey. The choice of method should align with the study objectives, time constraints, and the complexity of the interface under test.
Some alternatives to consider:
Conduct an uninterrupted task from start to finish to observe the natural flow of user interactions. Then, revisit each screen individually with the participant for a deeper understanding of their comprehension and feedback. This method may be more difficult depending on the amount of time you have and the complexity of the journey.
Split participants into groups, where one group goes through the uninterrupted task, while the other experiences the Hansel & Gretel task approach. This method caters to time constraints and provides a comparative insight into user interactions under different task designs.
Create tasks that combine holistic and segmented approaches. For instance, start with an uninterrupted task and at certain critical junctures, delve deeper to understand the user’s thought process and comprehension.
Unmoderated testing should avoid breaking down tasks
In unmoderated testing, steering clear of the Hansel & Gretel approach is even more critical. The absence of real-time guidance can make this method a catalyst for veering participants down a predetermined path, overshadowing genuine interactions. If a deeper understanding of individual screens is a requirement from stakeholders, it might be worth discussing the merits of transitioning to a moderated test.
In a moderated environment, the Hansel & Gretel approach can be employed with a balanced touch, where a moderator is present to guide the participants through the segmented tasks without overshadowing their natural interactions with the system. Explaining these nuances to clients or project leaders can help in selecting the most suitable approach for the usability test, ensuring both the detailed insights and the authenticity of user interactions are well-catered for.
Conduct usability testing
It is only through testing that we are able to understand how effective and efficient designs are. We are the usabiliting testing experts, working in a breadth of industries and products we can advise what usability tests best fit your needs.
If you would like to talk about how we can support you with gaining a deeper understanding of your audience so you can make evidence-driven design decisions, we’d love to talk! Contact us.
Related Posts
