Start with the question
A method is only useful if it fits the decision
A card sort can show how people group information. It cannot tell you whether they can complete checkout. A ranking question can force priorities. It cannot show where navigation breaks.
Start with what you need to decide, then choose the smallest test that can answer it.
Decide what comes first
Ask people to rank options.
Decide what belongs together
Ask people to sort items into groups.
See what catches attention
Show the design briefly, then ask what stayed with them.
See where people begin
Give them a task and record the first click.
See whether the journey works
Ask them to complete a task on a prototype or live site.
Find your fit
Choose a method by the question you have
Pick the closest question. You can combine methods later, but each one should earn its place.
What matters most?
Ranking questions
Ask people to put options in order when relative priority matters more than a score. Useful for feature priorities, messages, or the problems worth solving first.
How should this be grouped?
Card sorting
Ask people to group items into categories. Use an open sort to learn the names they use, or a closed sort to test categories you already have.
What lands at first glance?
Five-second testing
Show a page or design briefly, then ask what people noticed or remembered. Useful when the first impression carries the decision.
Where do people expect to start?
First-click testing
Give people a task and record their first click. Useful for navigation, labels, and the first step in a flow.
Can people complete the task?
Prototype or live-website testing
Ask people to work through a real journey on a prototype or live site. Use it when the route, hesitation, and blockers matter.
Which version do people prefer?
Preference testing
Show a small set of alternatives, ask for a choice, then ask why. Useful for comparing concepts, messages, or visual directions.
From method to study
Build the study around the decision
A useful study does more than name a method. It gives people a clear thing to do and gives you evidence you can act on.
- Name the decision. Write down what you will choose, change, or investigate after the study.
- Choose the action. Ask people to rank, sort, click, react, or complete a task.
- Add the explanation. Follow the action with a short question that helps you understand why.
- Bring the right people. Share the study with respondents who recognise the problem or product you are testing.
Run it in Fiuto
Turn the method into a study
Tell Fiuto what you need to learn. Review the draft before launch, share the study link with your own respondents, then read the responses when they come back.
Frequently asked questions
01What is usability testing?
Usability testing is a way to learn how people understand, navigate, and use a product or prototype. You give them something to see, sort, rank, click, or complete, then use what they do and say to inform the next decision.
02Which usability testing method should I use?
Choose the method that matches the decision. Use ranking when relative priority matters, card sorting when you are shaping categories, first-click testing when you need to see where people begin, and a prototype or live-website task when you need to observe a journey.
03What is the difference between ranking questions and card sorting?
Ranking asks people to put options in order. It is useful when you need a relative priority. Card sorting asks people to place items into groups. It is useful when you need to understand how people organise information and name categories.
04When should I use a card sort instead of a tree test?
Use a card sort when you are designing or naming a structure. Use a tree test when the structure already exists and you want to check whether people can find something inside it.
05Can I combine usability testing methods in one study?
Yes. A Fiuto study can combine methods, such as a first-click task followed by a rating and an open question. Keep one primary decision in view so every step contributes useful evidence.
06Do I need a finished product to run a usability test?
No. You can test a shared prototype or a live website. Choose the version that is developed enough for the behaviour or reaction you need to observe.
07Does Fiuto recruit participants?
No. You bring your own respondents and share the study link with them. Fiuto provides the study-building, launch, and results workflow.