Running usability sessions effectively

Usability testing focuses on how people interact with a prototype or product in realistic scenarios. Unlike surveys that capture opinions, usability sessions reveal behavior by observing whether users can complete tasks without friction. For example, locating a checkout button or navigating to account settings often highlights issues more clearly than simply asking if the design feels intuitive.

Sessions can be:

• Moderated, where a facilitator guides participants and asks follow-up questions
• Unmoderated, where users act independently and provide feedback afterward

Tools such as Maze, Lookback, and UsabilityHub support both formats, capturing screen recordings, heatmaps, and click paths for deeper analysis.

To keep sessions effective, several practices matter:

• Begin with well-defined goals, such as reducing task completion time or clarifying navigation.
• Prepare realistic tasks that reflect genuine user scenarios rather than artificial exercises.
• Recruit participants who match the target audience, as mismatched groups can distort results.
• Keep group sizes small to capture detailed observations, but run multiple sessions to confirm patterns.

During moderation, avoid leading questions that hint at a “correct” action, and let silence guide users to act naturally. Finally, document observations immediately, noting not only what users say but also where they hesitate, backtrack, or abandon tasks. These details form the evidence for improvements that matter most.