Conduct Face-to-Face Mobile App Testing Sessions with Your Target Audience

Moderated usability testing involves a facilitator who guides participants through tasks while observing and collecting feedback. This method allows for real-time interaction, providing deeper insights into user behavior and preferences.

In remote moderated usability testing, the facilitator and participants connect through an online platform. This setup enables the facilitator to observe and interact with participants in real-time without the need for physical presence. The Userlytics platform, for instance, offers features like no-download participation, invisible observers, and integrated chat to enhance the remote testing experience.

Moderated user testing offers numerous benefits, including the ability to ask follow-up questions, clarify misunderstandings, and gather both verbal and non-verbal feedback. This method is particularly valuable for understanding the "why" behind user actions, leading to more actionable insights.

Moderated testing is ideal when you need in-depth qualitative data, such as during the early stages of product development or when exploring new concepts. Unmoderated testing, on the other hand, is better suited for gathering large-scale, quantitative data where immediate interaction is not required.

An example of moderated usability testing could involve guiding a user through a mobile app’s onboarding process. The moderator might ask the user to complete specific tasks while observing their interactions and asking probing questions to understand their thought process and any difficulties encountered.

Moderated user research can take several forms, including in-person testing, remote moderated testing, and hybrid approaches that combine both methods. Each type offers unique advantages depending on the specific research goals and logistical considerations.

Conducting a moderated user test involves several steps: Planning: Define your objectives and create a test plan. Recruiting: Choose participants that match your target audience. Conducting: Guide participants through tasks while observing and interacting with them in real-time. Analyzing: Review the recorded sessions and analyze the data to uncover key insights.

The primary difference lies in the presence of a facilitator. In moderated testing, a facilitator guides participants and collects feedback in real-time. In unmoderated testing, participants complete tasks independently, often using a tool that records their actions and feedback without direct interaction.

Moderated remote usability testing allows you to engage with users in their natural environments, providing insights that might not be apparent in a controlled lab setting. This method helps identify usability issues, understand user motivations, and ultimately enhance the overall user experience.

Userlytics offers a comprehensive platform for moderated usability studies, with features like an easy scheduling tool, invisible observers, and no-download participation. These features ensure that your moderated user research is seamless, efficient, and provides the actionable insights you need to improve your product’s UX.

Moderated remote usability testing is conducted via video conferencing tools, allowing facilitators to guide participants from anywhere. This approach combines the benefits of moderated testing (e.g., direct interaction) with the convenience of remote access, reducing logistical challenges associated with in-person testing.

Yes, you can have up to 10 observers in every session, who can watch and listen to the moderator and the participant as they go through the session. If needed, more observers can be purchased as well.

"Very easy and very similar to an unmoderated user experience test, the main difference is you have a scheduling tool where you define the availability of your moderator (unless you wish to have Userlytics moderate). Invited participants then confirm the specific date/time they will do the test and both the moderator and the participant receive reminders prior to the selected date/time. One unique aspect of the Userlytics moderated testing platform (“Live Conversations”) is that participants do NOT need to download ANY application, extension or plug-in; the system is completely “in-browser” and 100% HTML-based, so participant onboarding is extremely seamless and can take place within corporate firewalls!"

The current policy for cancellations is that you're free to cancel any sessions more than 4 hours in advance. For cancellations under 4 hours, we do have to compensate the participants, so we might charge 50% of the total session cost so we can cover our costs.

If you believe the participant misrepresented their skills during a moderated session, was unresponsive, or had other ethical difficulties, you should discontinue the session within the first 10 minutes of the session. Userlytics will review the session and replace the participant.

Both the Moderator and the Observer(s) should participate using desktops or laptops during a mobile user testing session, with the participant accessing from a mobile device.