What is Tree Testing?
Tree testing is defined as a usability testing technique used to evaluate the findability of topics within a website or application’s information architecture. This method helps determine whether users can navigate through a proposed or existing hierarchical structure to locate specific content or complete tasks efficiently.
In a tree testing session, participants are provided with a simplified text version of the website’s or application’s hierarchical structure, devoid of any design elements. They are then given specific tasks or scenarios that require them to find particular items or pieces of information within this structure. The tester observes the path taken by participants, noting any difficulties or confusion encountered during navigation.
Tree testing focuses on the logical organization and labeling of categories and subcategories, ensuring that users can easily understand and navigate the structure. This method is particularly useful for validating and refining information architectures before they are implemented in the actual user interface, as it identifies areas where users might struggle to find information.
By analyzing the results of tree testing, designers can identify problematic areas within the hierarchy, such as ambiguous labels, misplaced items, or overly complex structures. This feedback enables designers to make informed adjustments to improve the overall usability and effectiveness of the information architecture, leading to a more intuitive and user-friendly navigation experience.
Key Components of Tree Testing
Tree testing is an effective method for evaluating the usability and structure of a website or application’s information architecture. The key components of tree testing include:
- Hierarchical Structure:
The hierarchical structure, or “tree,” is the backbone of the tree testing exercise. It represents the organization of categories and subcategories within the website or application in a simple, text-based format. This structure should accurately reflect the intended or existing navigation system without any design elements, focusing solely on the logical arrangement of information.
- Tasks/Scenarios:
Tasks or scenarios are specific goals or questions that participants are asked to complete during the tree testing session. These tasks should be representative of common actions or information retrieval processes that users would perform on the actual site. The clarity and relevance of these tasks are crucial as they guide the participants through the hierarchical structure.
- Participants:
Selecting the right participants is critical for meaningful tree testing. Participants should represent the target audience of the website or application, as their feedback will provide insights into the usability and intuitiveness of the information architecture. Typically, a sample size of 15-20 participants can yield valuable data.
- Navigation Path Analysis:
During the tree testing session, the paths taken by participants to complete the tasks are tracked and analyzed. This component focuses on understanding how users navigate through the hierarchy, identifying any points of confusion, missteps, or inefficiencies in the structure. Analyzing these paths helps in pinpointing areas that need improvement.
- Tools and Software:
Various tools and software are available to facilitate tree testing. These tools help create the hierarchical structure, assign tasks, track participant navigation paths, and collect data. Popular tools for tree testing include Optimal Workshop’s Treejack, UXtweak, and UserZoom. These platforms provide features for easy setup, execution, and analysis of tree tests.
- Analysis and Reporting:
After the tree testing session, the collected data is analyzed to identify patterns, problem areas, and user behaviors. Key metrics include task success rates, time taken to complete tasks, and the paths most commonly taken. The findings are then compiled into a report, highlighting areas of the hierarchy that are working well and those that need reorganization or clearer labeling.
Tree Testing Process: Key Steps with Examples
ree testing is a systematic approach to evaluating the usability of a website or application’s information architecture. Here are the key steps involved in the tree testing process, along with examples to illustrate each step:
1. Define Objectives:
Clearly define what you want to achieve with the tree testing exercise. This involves identifying the specific aspects of the information architecture you wish to evaluate.
Example: The objective might be to assess the findability of customer support resources on an e-commerce website.
2. Create the Hierarchical Structure:
Develop a simplified, text-based version of your site’s information hierarchy. This should include all main categories and subcategories as they would appear in the site’s navigation.
Example: For an e-commerce site, the hierarchical structure might include categories like “Home,” “Products,” “Electronics,” “Laptops,” “Customer Service,” “Shipping Information,” and “Return Policy.”
3. Develop Tasks/Scenarios:
Create realistic tasks or scenarios that users would typically perform on your site. These tasks should be designed to test the findability of specific pieces of information within the hierarchical structure.
Example: Tasks for the e-commerce site might include:
“Find the return policy.”
“Locate information on how to track your order.”
“Find laptops under the electronics category.”
4. Recruit Participants:
Select a representative sample of participants who reflect the target audience of your site. Aim for a diverse group to capture a wide range of user behaviors and perspectives.
Example: For the e-commerce site, participants could include frequent online shoppers, occasional buyers, and users who have previously sought customer support.
5. Conduct the Tree Testing Session:
Administer the tree testing exercise using a suitable tool or software. Participants are presented with the tasks and asked to navigate the hierarchical structure to find the required information.
Example: Using a tool like Treejack, participants are given the task, “Find the return policy,” and must navigate through the text-based hierarchy to locate it. Their paths and time taken to complete the task are recorded.
6. Analyze the Results:
After the session, analyze the data to identify patterns, successful navigation paths, and areas where participants struggled. Key metrics include success rates, time taken to complete tasks, and common missteps.
Example: Analysis might reveal that participants often took incorrect paths to find the return policy, indicating that “Return Policy” should be more prominently placed or labeled more clearly.
7. Report Findings:
Compile the analysis into a report that highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the current information architecture. Provide recommendations for improvements based on the observed data.
Example: The report might suggest moving “Return Policy” to a more intuitive location within the “Customer Service” section and using clearer labels for similar categories.
8. Implement Changes and Iterate:
Use the findings to make informed adjustments to the hierarchical structure. After implementing changes, consider conducting additional tree testing to validate the new structure.
Example: After relocating the “Return Policy” link and updating category labels, another round of tree testing could be conducted to ensure these changes have improved findability.
Types of Tree Testing with Examples
Tree testing is a valuable usability evaluation technique that helps understand how users navigate through a website or application’s information architecture. While the fundamental approach remains consistent, there are different types of tree testing tailored to specific goals and contexts. Here are the main types of tree testing, along with examples to illustrate each:
- Standard Tree Testing:
Standard tree testing involves presenting participants with a simplified, text-based version of the site’s hierarchical structure and assigning them tasks to locate specific items. This is the most common form of tree testing and focuses on evaluating the overall effectiveness of the information architecture.
Example: An online retailer might use standard tree testing to determine how easily users can find product categories like “Laptops,” “Smartphones,” and “Headphones” within its electronic products section. Participants might be given tasks such as “Find the latest smartphones” and “Locate the accessories for laptops.”
- Comparative Tree Testing:
Comparative tree testing involves testing multiple versions of an information architecture to determine which structure works best. This method is useful when deciding between different organizational schemes or label names.
Example: A healthcare website redesign might involve two different navigation structures: one based on medical conditions and another based on patient services. Participants are asked to complete the same tasks in both structures, such as “Find information on diabetes management” or “Locate the appointment scheduling service,” to see which structure is more intuitive.
- Exploratory Tree Testing:
Exploratory tree testing allows participants more freedom to explore the hierarchy without specific tasks, observing how they naturally navigate and what paths they take. This can reveal insights into users’ mental models and unexpected behaviors.
Example: A university website might use exploratory tree testing to see how prospective students explore academic programs and campus services. Participants might be asked to browse the site to find information relevant to them, such as “Explore undergraduate programs” or “Learn about student housing options.”
- Task-Based Tree Testing:
This type of tree testing focuses on specific, predefined tasks that users need to complete. It is highly structured and aims to evaluate how well the information architecture supports particular user goals.
Example: A bank website might conduct task-based tree testing to ensure users can easily find essential services like “Apply for a loan,” “Find branch locations,” and “Contact customer support.” Participants are given these tasks and their success rates and paths are closely monitored.
- Reverse Tree Testing (Hybrid Tree Testing):
Reverse tree testing combines elements of tree testing with usability testing of a fully designed interface. It involves participants using both the text-based hierarchy and the actual interface to complete tasks, providing insights into both the information architecture and the design implementation.
Example: An e-learning platform might use reverse tree testing to compare how users find course materials using the text-based structure versus the actual interface. Tasks might include “Locate the course syllabus for Biology 101” or “Find the discussion forums for Mathematics 201.”
- Validation Tree Testing:
Validation tree testing is used to confirm that changes made to the information architecture based on previous testing results are effective. It involves re-testing the updated structure to ensure improvements have addressed user issues.
Example: After initial tree testing identified difficulties in finding support resources, a software company might update its help section and then conduct validation tree testing. Participants are again asked to find items like “Troubleshooting guides” and “Contact technical support” to ensure the changes have improved usability.
