The Test Is OverNow What?

The Test Is Over ”Now What?

After the test, the results need to be tabulated and grouped by the tester. Often testers describe the problems and then rank them on two scales . One scale rates the severity of the problem: Is it a showstopper or just a minor annoyance? The second scale ranks the problem by the level of difficulty required to correct it; does it entail major database and application recoding ”or just a minor change to the prompt wording?

Here's a typical example of how a usability issue would be reported .

Severity = High

Change = Minor

Problem = Prompt 10072 says "If you're done, say 'Main menu'" when it should say "If you're done, say 'Good-bye.'" Six of ten users didn't know how to end the call.

The tester and the rest of the team determine which problems to fix after they have been ranked. Once major changes have been made, it's often time for another usability test. If the changes are all minor, it's time to go on to pilot testing.