Regular usability testing
In regular usability testing, participants go through a website or app and give immediate feedback about their experience at that time. A researcher will observe and ask questions during the test. In regular usability testing, it is possible to make use of eye tracking to record the eye movements of the participant, as well as a screen recording.
Neuro usability testing
In neuro usability research, the participant carries out the research completely independently without having to think aloud or interact to the researcher. During the research, EEG and eye tracking are used to measure the experience, and the participant gives his or her feedback regarding their emotions and the website afterwards (neuro feedback).
| Regular usability testing | Neuro usability testing | |
| Natural behaviour |
NO
|
YES
|
| Screen recording |
POSSIBLE
|
YES
|
| Eyetracking |
POSSIBLE
|
YES
|
| EEG |
NO
|
YES
|
| Conscious feedback |
YES
|
YES
|
| Talking aloud |
YES
|
NO
|
Additional insights versus regular usability testing
Neuro usability research offers, in addition to regular usability insights, additional insights that cannot be found with regular usability research. The latter focuses only on the conscious experience of the user, while it is actually valuable to look at the subconscious experience and the emotional experience of the user.
In regular usability research, socially desirable answers sometimes stand in the way of thorough research as well as the rationalization of an (subconsciously made) choice. Neuro usability research therefore is more objective.
