Usability Research

Usability Studies center on early (Alpha and Beta test stages), hands-on use of your product by targeted end-users, which provides the input to improve design and functionality. This methodology can also be applied to evaluate web sites, documentation, support services, etc. We find people who match your end-user profile to "test drive" your product, ensuring that it is optimally designed to get the job done and make your customers happy. Market Decisions partners with many high technology manufacturers who routinely include Usability Testing in their product development cycles. We develop screeners, recruit respondents and manage logistics to ensure properly qualified test subjects show up at the right place, at the right time. When it is necessary to keep these studies "blind," Market DecisionsÕ state-of-the art facilities are utilized as the test site.
Market Decisions is uniquely qualified to handle your usability project, and we have the experience to back up our claims. Last year alone, we recruited over 5,000 respondents for usability studies, focus groups, and site visits; representing over 250 unique projects.

Market Decisions' Usability Services include:

  • Project coordination and management
  • Screener design (making sure you get the "right" respondents)
  • Executive and General Population recruiting
  • Hosting (on and off-site)
  • Site visit recruiting and coordination
  • Working relationships with some of the top Human Factor Engineers in the field

Working with Market Decisions provides you with many benefits:

  • We provide consulting services to make sure your research design is appropriate, develop "precision" screeners that are pragmatic and ensure that you get the "right" respondent for your tests.
  • Our recruiters are top-notch, and they are dedicated to recruiting. A recruiter has distinctly different skills than a telephone interviewer. Ours receive extensive special training, and ongoing monitoring and mentoring to further hone their skills.
  • Some respondents are particularly difficult to find; recruiters have to be sleuths! We routinely handle the toughest jobs; our experience can make your "nightmare recruit" a "pleasant dream."
  • Coordinating respondent logistics is critical for a successful test. We ensure that recruits show up in the right place, at the right time. Our "show" rates average 90%, compared to the industry standard of 80%. We attribute this to our stringent four-step quality/verification process:
    1. We screen and recruit the respondent;
    2. The next day, the recruit is re-screened and their commitment to participate is verified.
    3. A letter, email or fax, with date and time information, directions and a map is sent to each respondent.
    4. The night-before their appointment, each respondent receives a final confirmation call.
  • We're not confined to our local area; Market Decisions coordinates and recruits usability studies and site visits from coast to coast.
  • Every project is custom; we don't try to serve "your" special needs with a "canned" approach.

Contact us at usability@mdcresearch.com Market Decisions' Usability Research specialist is ready to discuss your project requirements.