Creating test objectives

Learn how to craft clear test objectives and integrate them into your test plan.

 

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About objectives

  • User experience (UX) research often uses terms like "goals," "research questions," and "study objectives."
  • For our purposes, we’ll use the term “objective” to refer to any idea or question you want to explore in depth by collecting feedback.

Purpose of objectives

  • Objectives should guide every task you assign and every question you ask during your research.
  • They should focus on specific features or processes related to your product, ensuring a clear and targeted approach.

 

Characteristics of effective study objectives

Be specific

  • Identify a particular feature or process to focus on.
  • Mention specific elements or aspects within those features or processes.

Align with KPIs

  • Clients often link objectives to key performance indicators (KPIs) like conversion rates.

Use the SMART framework

  • Specific: Clearly define what you want to achieve.
  • Measurable: Ensure progress can be tracked.
  • Attainable: Set realistic goals.
  • Relevant: Align objectives with your product or business goals.
  • Time-Specific: Set a clear timeline for achieving the objectives.

Guide your study design

  • Well-defined objectives help you determine the tasks and questions to include in your test.
  • They provide clarity on the type of feedback and insights to deliver to your team.

 

 

How to craft a detailed objective

Talk to your team

  • Collaborate with stakeholders to align on business goals and priorities.
  • Identify the features or processes to test based on these goals.
  • Use available analytics to pinpoint areas of concern.
  • Consider a demonstration or walk-through of the feature to uncover additional details or concerns.

Prioritize objectives

  • If stakeholders provide too many objectives, ask them to prioritize their needs to focus on the most critical areas.

 

 

Turning objectives into a focused test plan

Break down objectives

  • Convert each objective into 2–4 tasks and/or questions.
  • This approach keeps the test plan focused and manageable.

Write clear instructions

  • Ensure tasks and questions are straightforward for contributors to follow.

Flexibility in task order

  • The diagram doesn’t prescribe a specific order for tasks and questions.
  • Tasks and questions can address multiple objectives.

Conduct a pilot test

  • If tasks are multipurpose, run a pilot to review results.
  • Verify that user feedback effectively addresses all objectives.

 

 

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