Even before you log into your UserTesting account, you should have an Objective in mind so you’ll know what kinds of tasks and questions to include in your study, and what kind of information to send back to your team.
Start with the the broad topics that the study will cover then drill down. Review any available analytics data to pinpoint areas of concern. Next Prioritize your objectives to figure out which one(s) to focus on for a specific study. You can then turn each objective into 2-4 tasks and/or questions. Here’s a handy diagram for that:
By using this approach, it ensures that your test plan stays focused as you begin the more detailed activity of writing clear task instructions and questions for your users.
For more information, visit the blog post “Setting Clear Objectives for Your UX Research”.