What is a usability test?

A usability test is fundamentally centered around assessing how effectively real users can interact with a product. The primary goal of this type of testing is to identify any potential usability issues that may hinder the overall user experience. During a usability test, participants are typically asked to perform specific tasks while observers watch and take notes on their behavior, difficulties encountered, and their feedback.

By engaging real users under realistic conditions, designers and researchers can gain valuable insights into how intuitive and user-friendly a product is. This process allows for iterative improvements to be made based on direct user feedback, ultimately enhancing functionality and user satisfaction.

The other options do not encapsulate the essence of a usability test. High-fidelity designs relate more to the visual and functional aspects of design rather than user interaction. Conducting market research generally focuses on understanding consumer preferences and market dynamics, rather than evaluating how users interact with a specific product. An analysis of advertising effectiveness pertains to assessing how well advertising transmits messages and leads to desirable outcomes, which deviates from examining product usability.