Usability refers to how easy it is to use a technology or
service.
User experience research is the investigation of how people interact
with, make sense of, and respond to technology and services.
UXR improves scientific software products by revealing differences
between software developers’ and users’ perspectives and assumptions.
UXR can also surface insights that can simplify tool use and adoption
and help determine user needs amid a rapidly changing technological
landscape.
UXR can measure a product’s learnability, efficiency, memorability,
errors, or utility and user’s satisfaction.
Rapid usability tests are tools for observing how users interact
with a tool or service. Tests should involve narrowly scoped tasks and
measurable outcomes. Results from these tests are used to guide
development work.
Rapid usability tests are most effective for teams that already have
an interactive prototype, a minimum viable product, or more mature tool
or service
