Task Writing for Usability Tests

Course Curriculum

Why Good Tasks Matter (2 Lessons, 12 min)

• Course Overview & Downloads
• Tasks: What Are They and Why Do They Matter?

Tasks, Scenarios, and Follow-Up Questions (3 Lessons, 44 min)

• Writing Action-Oriented Tasks
• Using Scenarios to Make Tasks Feel More Realistic
• Tasks Versus Questions

Identify the Right Task Type for Your Research Goal (5 Lessons, 69 min)

• Appropriate Research Goals for Usability Testing
• Directed Tasks with Clear Success Criteria
• Findability Tasks
• Discoverability Tasks
• Exploratory or Open-Ended Tasks

Task Writing Best Practices (5 Lessons, 78 min)

• The Anatomy of Tasks and Close-Out Phrases
• Avoiding Leading or Priming
• Make Tasks Realistic and Fair
• Keep Tasks Simple
• Avoid Discussion and Design Reviews

How to Order Tasks Appropriately (4 Lessons, 84 min)

• Four Task Order Mistakes to Avoid
• Watch Me Put a Few Tasks in Order
• Stepped Tasks
• Putting Your Tasks into a Test Plan

Modifying Tasks in Moderated and Unmoderated Sessions (3 Lessons, 55 min)

• When to Adapt Tasks in Moderated Sessions
• Writing Tasks for Unmoderated Sessions
• Conclusion