{"id":2323,"date":"2023-04-17T19:10:04","date_gmt":"2023-04-17T18:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bornoe.org\/blog\/?p=2323"},"modified":"2023-11-30T02:07:41","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T01:07:41","slug":"an-introduction-to-guerrilla-usability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bornoe.org\/blog\/2023\/04\/an-introduction-to-guerrilla-usability\/","title":{"rendered":"An introduction to guerrilla usability"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is guerrilla usability?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Guerrilla usability is an approach to formative usability testing that emphasizes speed, low cost, and flexibility. It involves conducting quick and informal usability tests in the field or with a small group of participants, often using existing technology and resources. The approach is not a substitute for other usability evaluation methods but a relevant evaluation approach alongside other usability evaluation techniques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The term &#8220;guerrilla&#8221; comes from the idea of conducting tests in a guerrilla warfare-style manner, where small agile teams use unconventional tactics to achieve their goals. In the context of usability testing, guerrilla usability involves finding creative ways to test a product&#8217;s usability with limited resources and time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Guerrilla usability aims to provide quick and inexpensive feedback on a product&#8217;s usability. Typically agile software development processes include and fit this testing approach, where quick feedback is essential to improve a product rapidly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While it may not be as comprehensive as formal usability evaluation methods, guerrilla usability testing can still yield significant benefits, especially if the alternative is no usability evaluation at all. Even a small sample size of users can provide valuable feedback and insights that can be used to identify key pain points and first-time-use experiences of features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Guerrilla usability testing is usually conducted in the field, with participants who are randomly approached in an office or public place. The testing sessions are usually short and informal, and the participants are typically asked to complete simple tasks that reflect the product&#8217;s intended usage. These tasks may include searching for information on a website, purchasing a product, or using a mobile app. This approach is known as &#8220;intercept testing.&#8221; Sessions can also be conducted remotely using video conferencing or screen-sharing tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advantages<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the key advantages of guerrilla usability testing are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Cost-effective:<\/strong> Formal usability evaluation methods can be expensive, often requiring hiring a specialized usability lab and recruiting participants. In contrast, guerrilla usability testing is low-cost, as it can be conducted using free tools and often with existing resources and personnel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Quick and efficient:<\/strong> Because guerrilla usability testing is conducted on-the-spot with real users, it can be completed quickly and efficiently. This can be especially useful for smaller projects or those with tight deadlines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Provides real-world feedback:<\/strong> Guerrilla usability testing allows designers to get feedback from real users in real-world settings. This means they can see how users interact with their designs in their actual usage scenarios.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Can be done anywhere:<\/strong> Because sessions include limited equipment and setup, guerrilla usability testing can be done in various locations. For example, offices, coffee shops, libraries, and other public spaces.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Helps identify usability issues early:<\/strong> By conducting quick and informal tests with users, designers can identify usability issues early on in the design process. Such insights can save time and money by preventing the need for extensive redesigns later on.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Encourages creativity:<\/strong> Because guerrilla usability testing is often conducted in informal settings, designers are encouraged to think creatively about conducting tests and gathering feedback. Such experience can lead to new and innovative methods of gathering user feedback.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Increases stakeholder buy-in:<\/strong> Designers can increase buy-in and support for their designs by involving stakeholders. This can be especially useful when working with clients or other external stakeholders.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Flexibility:<\/strong> Guerrilla usability testing can be adapted to different types of products and environments. It is also realistic to change the testing process on the fly if necessary.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Limitations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Guerrilla usability testing also have several potential limitations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Limited sample size:<\/strong> Since guerrilla testing relies on convenience sampling, the sample size is often small and may not represent the target audience. As a result, the generalizability of the findings can be limited.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Limited scope:<\/strong> Guerrilla testing is often focused on specific aspects of a product&#8217;s usability and may not comprehensively evaluate all its features.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Limited data collection:<\/strong> Due to the informal nature of guerrilla testing, data collection may be limited to basic observations and participant feedback. Such limited data may not provide the depth of insights that formal testing methods offer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Limited control over testing environment:<\/strong> testing sessions are typically conducted in public settings, which means there may be factors outside of the researcher&#8217;s control that could affect the testing process or results.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Potential for bias:<\/strong> Since participants in guerrilla testing are not carefully screened, there is a risk of bias due to factors such as self-selection or non-representative sampling.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lack of standardization:<\/strong> Guerrilla testing methods are often ad-hoc and informal, making it difficult to standardize testing procedures across different studies, researchers, or even individual tests in a session.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Missing domain knowledge.<\/strong> Guerrilla usability testing may not always be appropriate for more complex or specialized systems. If the system requires specific knowledge or expertise, finding participants with the necessary qualifications may take time and effort and require upfront recruitment of participants.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to run a guerrilla usability test<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There is no strict procedure for running a guerrilla usability test, but the following outline includes some key points that can be used for inspiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Planning<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Define your objectives:<\/strong> As with any usability test, you should start by defining your objectives. What specific aspects of the user experience do you want to test, and what do you hope to learn?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Recruit participants:<\/strong> For guerrilla testing, you&#8217;ll need to recruit participants on the fly. Consider going to a public place where you&#8217;re likely to find people who fit your user profile, such as a coffee shop or park. Your colleagues or network are also options for participants. You can approach people directly and ask if they&#8217;d be willing to participate in a quick usability test.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Prepare your materials:<\/strong> Depending on what you&#8217;re testing, you may need to prepare materials like a prototype, wireframes, or a list of tasks. Keep your testing materials simple and portable so you can conduct the test anywhere.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong> Conducting the test.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Conduct the test sessions:<\/strong> Find a quiet spot in your public location, meeting room etc., where you can conduct the test. Give participants a brief introduction to what you&#8217;re testing and what you&#8217;d like them to do. Then, observe their behavior and ask questions as they complete the tasks. Be careful not to lead the participants.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Record the results:<\/strong> It&#8217;s important to record the results of your test so you can analyze them later. You can take notes on paper or use a tool like a mobile device to record audio or video of the test.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Analyse<\/strong>. Once you&#8217;ve completed your testing, it&#8217;s time to analyze the results. Look for patterns in the feedback you received and identify any areas where users struggled or had questions. List the pain spots and what worked.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Iterate.<\/strong> Use the insights you gained from the test to improve your product or prototype, and then conduct another round of testing to see if the changes have had a positive impact on the user experience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In conclusion, guerrilla usability testing is valuable for gathering quick and cost-effective feedback on a product&#8217;s usability and should be considered as part of a comprehensive usability testing strategy. While it may provide a different level of depth and detail than other usability evaluation methods, it can be an effective and practical approach to identifying usability flaws early in the product development cycle and rapidly improving a system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is guerrilla usability? Guerrilla usability is an approach to formative usability testing that emphasizes speed, low cost, and flexibility. It involves conducting quick and informal usability tests in the field or with a small group of participants, often using existing technology and resources. The approach is not a substitute for other usability evaluation methods [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-usability","category-ux-design"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bornoe.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2323","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bornoe.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bornoe.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bornoe.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bornoe.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2323"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/bornoe.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2323\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2585,"href":"https:\/\/bornoe.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2323\/revisions\/2585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bornoe.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bornoe.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bornoe.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}