Video · ~6 min

Introducing a Usability Test to the Participant

Nielsen Norman Group Free Intermediate

Shows an actual demonstration of a facilitator's opening script, the part of the session most founders wing and accidentally bias with. How you introduce the test (telling them there are no wrong answers, that you're testing the product and not them) sets the tone for whether they'll behave naturally for the next 30 minutes.

  • Tell participants explicitly you're testing the product, not them.
  • A consistent opening script keeps sessions comparable across users.
  • How you frame the intro shapes how honest the rest of the session will be.

The question it answers

  1. How do I show a prototype to users without biasing their reaction?

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