Testing is a crucial part of developing a mobile app. However, since it takes a lot of time and effort, it is often taken lightly or completely overlooked. But are your users going to like it if they find a bug? That’s very unlikely.
Mobile user testing is extremely crucial. It helps users evaluate how well the app runs and ensures that the users can navigate the app effectively and efficiently. Are you looking forward to testing your app? We have covered the different methods, tools, and practices to help you get started in this article. Read ahead to know more.
What is Mobile App User Testing/ Usability Testing?
Usability testing is getting actual people to interact with your application so that you observe their behavior, interactions, and reactions and make changes accordingly.
It helps app owners validate their decisions (like interface design, functionality, and navigation) and informs future decisions- like bug fixes or prioritizing new features.
Elements for Conducting User Testing
An Android and iPhone app usability testing require the following steps:
1: Building a prototype.
2: Planning the test in advance.
- Defining the goals of user testing
- Testing the platform according to users
3: Creating a testing plan.
4: Recruiting people to test (users + testing team)
- Hiring testers to run alpha, beta, gamma tests
- Zeroing down on the number of testers
- Performing in-person testing by users
- Performing moderated and unmoderated testing
5: Conducting the test and obtaining the results.
6: Documenting the results and working on improving the app.
What Does User Testing Cost?
You can perform your own tests with your team. In that case, the total cost incurred would be equivalent to the methods you use, the total number of tests, the duration of tests, and many more. Do you want to run your app through users alone, or do you want to involve your team as well?
At JumpGrowth, we offer testing as a part of our app prototyping and app development. We perform tests to create something tangible that would be easy to be delivered straight to the investors. Contact us to know more.
Mobile Application Testing Methods
Now that we understand how to conduct usability testing- let us take a look at the most popular mobile application testing methods.
1: Moderated, In-Person
Lab Usability Testing – It evaluates how easy it is for a user to complete a set of tasks on the app in an environment that reduces naturalistic bias.
These tests are often expensive and based on a tiny population in a controlled environment. It is not necessarily a reflection of the real-life use cases or actual customer base.
Guerrilla Testing – Test participants are chosen randomly from a public place and asked to perform a quick test in exchange for something, like a coupon.
Guerrilla testing allows you to test your app’s usability in an actual environment while building awareness. But it is not good for follow-ups or extensive testing because participants generally don’t stick around to provide feedback.
2: Moderated, Remote Testing
Video and Phone Interviews – In this mobile app user testing, participants complete tasks over a recorded video call, and their behavior gets noted remotely. It is more economical for testing across a large geographical area while collecting more data in a shorter period.
Card Sorting – A moderator asks participants to sort virtual cards representing different categories/ items in the app into the categories that make sense to them. It helps developers build better navigation while uncovering missing/ unnecessary features to design an intuitive and easy-to-use interface.
3: Unmoderated, Remote Testing
Session Recordings – It is one of the most effective mobile application testing methods. In this, the user sessions are recorded using mobile devices with the capabilities of audio and video recording. It lets product designers and researchers identify usability issues.
4: Unmoderated, In-person Testing
Observation Testing – It is the process of observing the users as they interact with the app. As a part of the user testing application, we assess how easy it is to use the app and uncover its issues. It is performed in labs, using mobile devices connected to a computer with a screen recorder. It can also be performed on-site at users’ offices. It uncovers unanticipated or unreproduced issues regarding the functionality and interface of the app.
When to use Usability Testing Methods?
On the basis of where you are with your mobile app development process at the moment, there are the following times when you can perform the Android and iPhone app usability testing:
1: Prototype User Testing
This mobile user testing occurs when you start with your app idea while converting the requirements and the information of the target audience into wireframes. This approach saves costs, since amending wireframes while running tests is cheaper than straight coding.
2: MVP Usability Testing
The MVP refers to a product’s initial version that verifies the assumptions of the real market. To maximize its effect, one must make sure that they have run UX tests just before releasing the app. It results in better adjustments in the onboarding part and everything else that primarily affects a live mobile app.
3: Post-launch, live app tests
This mobile user testing is simple and most common. After we launch an app, we can start gathering the data from users. When this data shows potential roadblocks, we can begin verifying our hypotheses to remove these blockages in the long run.
Best Practices of the Usability Test
A user testing application involves a lot of protocols. Here are the things that you must follow:
1: Ditch the prototype –
Test on actual devices, like an Android phone, iPad, etc., and across multiple types. Gain a thorough knowledge of how it performs across different factors.
2: Recruit the right test group –
Make diversity a priority. More diverse opinions will create a better app. Make sure that your test group doesn’t have 100% experienced smartphone users.
3: When it comes to the test groups, size matters –
Recruit five to fifteen participants in about three successive batches. It will uncover about 99% of the UX/ UI issues in your app.
4: Be mindful of your testing environment –
Since people will use your app wherever they go, make sure that your app works in multiple environments – outdoors, indoors, and in the places where we have faulty reception.
5: Keep it short, sweet, and to the point –
Follow the script. Your testing sessions must be short and to the point, about 30 minutes or less. You must only select representative tasks that the users can execute. Test the app’s flow across numerous screens, and ensure a clear path for users to follow.
6: Determine what might be missing and plan for the future –
The participants must point out where they expect specific features in your application, even if they are currently unavailable. This data makes your interface more intuitive and helps you plan better future features.
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