When you need to bring along the product team for help on a guerilla usability study, this is a quick intro to their role in the study and how to be a good facilitator.

1. Intro to guerilla usability testing
Rebecca Destello
Intro to Guerilla Usability Testing | @rebeccadestello

2. First, what is usability?
Intro to Guerilla Usability Testing | @rebeccadestello

3. “Usability really just means making
sure that something works well –
whether it’s a website, a fighter jet
or a revolving door.
Steve Krug
Author of “Don’t Make Me Think”
Intro to Guerilla Usability Testing | @rebeccadestello

4. typical phases of usability testing
• Planning
• Facilitating
• Analyzing
This is where
you come in
Intro to Guerilla Usability Testing | @rebeccadestello

5. The
Situation
Intro to Guerilla Usability Testing | @rebeccadestello

6. the situation
• We’ve got something to test
• It’s Christmas week
• Participants do more no-shows during holidays
• We have 1 day to test
We’ve got to go… guerilla!
Intro to Guerilla Usability Testing | @rebeccadestello

7. The Solution
Intro to Guerilla Usability Testing | @rebeccadestello

8. guerilla usability testing in 5 easy steps
1. Find 1 or 2 willing participants
2. Introduce them to the study and ask them to think
aloud as they complete each task
3. Follow the script
4. Be a good moderator
5. Observe and take notes on what you see and hear
Intro to Guerilla Usability Testing | @rebeccadestello

9. guerilla usability testing in 5 easy steps
1. Find 1 or 2 willing participants.
Does the participant look like they could be interrupted?
Yes > “Hi, I’m with _________ [build legitimacy]. I’m
testing _________ [the reason you’re interrupting them]
and I’d love to get your feedback [what you want from
them] – you’ll get a $5 Starbucks gift card [what they’ll
get form you] for your time. I only need about 5 minutes
[time commitment].”
Intro to Guerilla Usability Testing | @rebeccadestello

10. guerilla usability testing in 5 easy steps
2. Introduce them to the study and ask them to think
aloud as they complete each task.
Let them know you’re looking for ways to improve
their experience, so they should feel comfortable
giving you feedback.
Ask them to think aloud while completing tasks.
Intro to Guerilla Usability Testing | @rebeccadestello

11. guerilla usability testing in 5 easy steps
3. Follow the script.
Stay on script. You can even tell your participant – I’m
going to be reading from a script – if it will make it
easier to do.
Staying on script will ensure some rigor to the study.
Intro to Guerilla Usability Testing | @rebeccadestello

12. guerilla usability testing in 5 easy steps
4. Be a good moderator.
If you want to ask a follow-up question, avoid
keywords, adjectives, and hints.
Here are some examples for what to avoid:
“How would you pick it up in store?”
“How much does this app rock?”
“It’s hard to find, isn’t it?”
You need this item today,
what are your options?
What do you like? What
would you improve?
What are you thinking?
Intro to Guerilla Usability Testing | @rebeccadestello

13. guerilla usability testing in 5 easy steps
4. Be a good moderator
Better questions to ask:
“What are you thinking?”
“What are you looking for?”
“Is that what you were expecting?”
“What do you think would happen next?”
Intro to Guerilla Usability Testing | @rebeccadestello

14. guerilla usability testing in 5 easy steps
5. Observe and take notes on what you see and hear.
You don’t have to record everything they say, but
record surprising insights, quotes, and any problems
they encounter.
Intro to Guerilla Usability Testing | @rebeccadestello

15. Let’s recap
Intro to Guerilla Usability Testing | @rebeccadestello

16. recap of usability test moderating
1. Find 1 or 2 willing participants
2. Introduce them to the study and ask them to think aloud as
they complete each task
3. Follow the script
4. Be a good moderator
5. Observe and take notes on what you see and hear
Intro to Guerilla Usability Testing | @rebeccadestello

17. Questions?
Intro to Guerilla Usability Testing | @rebeccadestello

18. Thank you!
Rebecca Destello
@rebeccadestello