Creating an Effective Findings Report

An effective findings report synthesizes insights from user testing into actionable guidance. It plays a crucial role in communicating results and facilitating decision-making. In this section, we will walk through the elements of a findings report that drives improvements.

The real value of user testing is in the findings report which is developed the end of your user testing cycle to summarize key themes, memorialize insights, and outline specific actions. Here are some pointers for developing an effective findings report.

Enhance Accessibility by Structuring the Report for Easy Consumption so that Information is Easily Found

a. Structure and Clarity: The report should be easy to understand and follow, and the structure should be intuitive and clear. b. Summarize Important Insights: Include a summary slide or page at the beginning to provide an overview of the most important insights and recommendations. c. Utilize ‘Observation – Recommendation’ Format: State an observation and then the proposed solution, followed by detailed slides or pages that dive deeper. d. Appendices: Include an appendix with the details of the test plan and methodology, along with any additional information or data.

Engage Readers by Visualizing Key Points in the Report so that Content is More Appealing

a. Include Visual Elements: Screenshots with callouts to illustrate key points. b. Highlight Key Points: Use graphs to highlight quantitative data, and include links to video clips that demonstrate important findings.

Tailor Communication to Match Audience’s Formality Level so that Presentation Resonates with Readers

a. Agile Development Team: A simple bulleted list or spreadsheet may be sufficient. b. Larger or Formal Audiences: More detail and structure may be necessary.

Optimize Engagement by Selecting a Format that Resonates with Your Audience so that Presentation has Greater Impact

a. Consider Organization and Audience Needs: PowerPoint presentations are commonly used, but other formats like word documents may be needed depending on stakeholders.

Build Collaboration by Publishing and Sharing the Findings so that Learning and Insight are Encouraged Across the Organization

a. Distribute Widely: Make the final report available to everyone who needs it, including stakeholders, project managers, and team members.

Increase Credibility by Including Comprehensive Supporting Data so that Findings are More Trustworthy and Applicable

a. Comprehensive Information: Include supporting data to substantiate the insights.