I offer usability testing, a web research method wherein test users are assigned specific tasks to complete on a website. It is a deep method for evaluating the usability of web interfaces.
Jakob Nielsen describes usability testing as having five important components:
1) Learnability- How easy is it for users to accomplish basic tasks the first time they encounter the design?
2) Efficiency- Once users have learned the design, how quickly can they perform tasks?
3) Memorability- When users return to the design after a period of not using it, how easily can they reestablish proficiency?
4) Errors- How many errors do users make, how severe are these errors, and how easily can they recover from the errors?
5) Satisfaction- How pleasant is it to use the design?
Volunteer participants are recruited and assigned a set of tasks to complete on the website. All participants are given the same tasks, described to them as parts of user scenarios with a prepared script by test moderators.
The participants carry out the tasks under the observation with minimal leading from the moderators. Notes are taken on any difficulties they encounter, and other thoughts or events which may be informative (such as participant mood). A full report can be generated from the aggregate findings of multiple participants.
a video of a usability test: