Remote testing

This document contains a step by step guide on how to test remotely.

Choose a communication tool

Zoom
GoToMeeting
Join.me
Skype
Discord
Lookback.io
Whereby.com

Plan what you want to test

Do not give a list to the participant, but always assign separate tasks. As a result, the participant cannot already think ahead. You can do this by sending the different tasks separately or by saying them loudly. Of course, let the participant also share her or his screen. If necessary, ask if you can record the screen so that you can review it and make notes during the individual tasks of what the participant is doing.

Explain to the participant what the goal is

Give the tester as little information as possible. Explain to the participant what he or she has to do. Do this for each task. Don't forget to ask if the participant can think out loud. This way you know what a user thinks and what he or she expects.

Make a script

Make a list for the participant explaining what he or she has to do on your site. Do not help the participant but let him or her take their own guesses. This allows you to see how they actually go through your site. There are three type of questions you can ask:

Contextual questions. These are somewhat simpler questions. See them as icebreakers. This makes the participant feel at ease. For example, ask what kind of work the participant does and what it's like in these times.
Scenarios and tasks. Create a scenario for the participant and apply tasks that he or she has to perform on your website. For example: You are cooking but you no longer remember the recipe of pancakes. Search the website for the needed recipe.
Questions about the experience. These are the last questions. This is where you complete your research. For example, ask how the experience was, what did you think was good and what could be improved, or ask how the participant will describe the website.