Comments on: The difference between User Research and Usability Testing?

By: Josh Walsh

Josh Walsh — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:06:50 +0000

Harry and Tony – Thanks for the comments, I appreciate the clarification. Some people I’ve spoken to here use these terms in different and looser ways.

Regardless, it’s the process that matters more than the names.

By: Tony Tulathimutte

Tony Tulathimutte — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:48:46 +0000

I’d generally agree with Harry—”usability research” is a type of user research, but it is still valuable to note that there is a distinction between usability research and user research. Lots of non-UX people still assume that all user research is about making things easier to use. “Formative research” or “design research” are the names that’s often given to the pre-iteration research methods you describe here.

By: Harry

Harry — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:27:31 +0000

Sorry, I disagree. There are lots of different types of user research. Usability testing is one type.

By: Angela Colter

Angela Colter — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:48:33 +0000

I disagree. The difference is the focus of the research (users vs. the interface); it isn’t solely when you do the testing.

You can certainly do usability testing at the beginning of an iteration to identify problems in the current design, test the current or competitor sites to establish a benchmark, etc.

Are you trying to figure out user needs, preferences, motivations or processes? That’s user research. And yes, it tends to happen at the beginning of an iteration cycle, but not always.

Are you trying to find out whether your interface is easy to use, and serves the needs of your audience? That’s usability testing. Again, it usually happens at the end of an iteration, when you have something to test. But as the examples mentioned above demonstrate, there are exceptions.

By: Bilcare Research

Bilcare Research — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:40:00 +0000

this post is great about difference between Usability Testing & User Research,
Thanks