What is Tree Testing?

This article applies to: UserTesting 

On this page:

• What is a tree test?
• Why is tree testing helpful?
• When should you do tree testing?
• Tree testing with UserTesting

What is a tree test?

• Tree testing is a usability technique used to evaluate how easy or difficult it is for users to find specific topics on a website.
• This method is also known as “reverse card sorting” or “card-based classification.”
• Tree tests are conducted on text-based versions of websites or apps without design elements or navigation aids, similar to a sitemap.
• Contributors are asked to indicate where they would find specific items or topics in the structure.

Why is tree testing helpful?

• It strips away design and focuses solely on labels and organization to evaluate your website structure's effectiveness.
• If contributors struggle to locate items, this highlights structural issues.
• Tree testing can help visualize the paths contributors take to locate specific information.

When should you do tree testing?

• Conduct a tree test early in the research phase of a project.
• Use it to identify and address issues with your site structure.
• Run tests on different versions of a new website’s proposed structure to determine which works best for your users.

Tree testing with UserTesting

• Build your tree test in the UserTesting Platform or create it in a tree test app.
• Integrate the task into an unmoderated UserTesting test.
• Contributors are encouraged to think out loud during the test, allowing you to observe their behavior and hear their feedback.
• Note: Tree testing is not optimized for mobile.

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