When to use each type of test in the UserTesting platform

This article applies to: UserTesting 

On this page:

• When to use Live Conversations
• When to choose standard unmoderated tests
• When short tests are the right choice
• When to use Quick Answer tests
• When to use surveys

When to use Live Conversations

• A Live Conversation test is a type of moderated test where you oversee and communicate with participants in real-time as they take the test.
• This method is great for discovery interviews, concept testing, or prototype testing.
• It allows you to:
  • Guide participants in real time if they encounter technical difficulties.
  • Ask personalized follow-up questions and receive immediate responses.
  • Observe visual cues such as body language and surroundings, which may reveal insights not captured in unmoderated tests.

When to choose standard unmoderated tests

• Standard unmoderated tests allow contributors to test a concept, prototype, website, or app independently without a moderator present.
• During these tests, participants complete tasks you’ve written and provide verbal feedback, all while their session is being recorded.
• Unmoderated testing on UserTesting includes interaction tests and think-out-loud tests.
  • Use interaction tests to...
    • Evaluate how users interact with specific elements or features within your product, website, or application.
    • Focus on understanding the user's behavior as they engage with an interface, such as clicking buttons, navigating through menus, or testing specific flows.
  • Use think-out-loud tests to...
    • Gain deeper insight into the user's cognitive process and decision-making.
    • Understand how users approach problem-solving, what they find intuitive or confusing, and where they experience friction.
• Consider using unmoderated tests when you want to:
  • Get feedback quickly. Set up the test and leverage the UserTesting Network to receive results, often within the same day.
  • Use larger sample sizes. You can include more contributors without requiring a moderator for each session, such as running a card sort with 30 participants.
  • Provide participants with scheduling flexibility. They can choose when and where to complete the test.
  • Ensure participants complete the test in a natural, comfortable environment, offering authentic insights.

When short tests are the right choice

• Short tests are designed to collect focused feedback through five-minute video responses, making them perfect for answering one key question.
• They are a great starting point for more in-depth research and can guide decision-making throughout the design and development process.
• Here are some ways to use short tests effectively:
  • First impressions: Use short tests to gather quick initial reactions to a design, site, or app.
  • Validate concepts and designs: Run a short test featuring one or two screens of a prototype to gain feedback that informs your design-development decisions.
  • Diary studies: Use short tests as daily check-ins for a diary study where participants test a product over multiple days or sessions.
  • Pre-screening for Live Conversation: Identify contributors who best fit your testing goals, such as confirming expertise or relevance for your research.

When to use Quick Answer tests

• Quick Answer tests are predefined, unmoderated tests launched from a template to address specific, targeted testing goals.
• These tests allow you to quickly gather feedback by selecting a test type from the Quick Answer gallery, providing preliminary details, and defining your audience.
• Use Quick Answer tests when you want to:
  • Fill in a few details about the item you want feedback on to quickly launch a test with minimal setup.
  • Leverage tasks and questions built by UserTesting’s research experts to suit your specific goals.
• For more information, refer to the "Quick Answers: Overview" Knowledgebase article or the Using Quick Answers University course.

When to use surveys

• Surveys are a great way to gather structured feedback from a larger audience, especially when you need to collect quantitative data or simple, direct responses to specific questions. Use surveys when:
  • You want to collect large amounts of data from participants who aren’t required to perform tasks.
  • You need participants to respond to standardized questions with a set of predefined answer options (e.g., multiple-choice, Likert scales).
  • You want to conduct sentiment analysis, gather demographic information, or assess general preferences.
  • You are measuring customer satisfaction (CSAT) or Net Promoter Score (NPS).

• Surveys are ideal when you need scalable feedback or a general overview of user attitudes or experiences without needing deep, task-based insights.

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