Task-based online survey

When is this method appropriate?

Within a (standardised) task-based online survey a preferably differentiated evaluation of the application, or rather, the website is ascertained. In addition, benchmarking with competitors is possible. Generally, this kind of online survey is applicable in all phases of the product development. In terms of requirement analysis for a new internet offer before or after a (re-) launch as a kind of release test/success control or in the sense of a continual controlling.

Possible questions

• Where are potentials of improvement in your web offer and where are your users optimally supported?
• How do users rate your website in different dimensions (for example navigation, design, joy of use, …)?
• How do users rate the provided contents, services and functions?
• Benchmarking analysis: how is your offer rated compared to your competitors’ offers?

And many more…

In what project phase applicable?

An online usability test, or rather, a task-based online survey can be implemented in all phases of the development of a web application or a web offer (online shop, editorial website, company performance): before or after a (re-) launch of a clickable prototype or for a continual success control.

What is the procedure of this method?

Within a task-based online survey by our online-access-panel a particularly comprehensive and differentiated evaluation of the application or website is ascertained.

Within the questionnaire the test attendees get a task- or scene-based usage, that they need to use and rate the offer in the following dimensions:

• User friendliness/usability
• Content
• Visual implementation
• Joy of Use

In addition, the test attendees can notify so-called critical incidents mwhile using or working on the tasks. That means that a critical situation either positive or negative arises. This situation can be directly described in a comment field.

On demand or for a direct comparison the test attendees can be send to particularly chosen websites of your competitors where one can find the same use scenes.

By a benchmarking data base we are additionally able to compare the ascertained data of your application with the ratings of other offers (so-called benchmarking analysis). Hereby valuable findings can be derivated how to optimise your offer.

Due to a variety of studies for web offers of different branches (look clients/references) the data base has differentiated ratings for 350 web offers.

Strengths of this method:

• Quick gaining of findings for target-group specific questions.
• Highest data quality and validity (no ‘fan effects’ this means no falsification of the results due to the rating of customers or heavy-users of an offer).)
• Low cost surveys of hardly contactable target-groups (for instance seniors or executive staff/manager)
• 24 hours/7 days ascertainment!
• Possibility to systemically compare and rate offers of competitors!

What about the sample size?

To gain reliable results also for sub groups a possibly large sample should be interviewed. To measure significant differences between sub groups each sub group should content about 200 test subjects.

How much time takes the implementation?

Due to the recruiting via our own online-access-panel we can invite, or rather, realise samples within a few days. Generally, one week is enough to gain representative results. For the evaluation, preparation and interpretation of the results 1 week should be calculated. Totally, this kind of survey project (incl. the preparation) takes about 3 to 4 weeks.

What input do you have to provide?

Optimally you come to our premises with concrete questions and/or site areas which we can carefully examine and thematise during the evaluation. We would like to work out with you this kind of questions in a workshop (on the spot or by conference call).

On demand we support you with the correct, media adequate formulation of your questions and we provide suggestions for appropriate selectable answers. For this purpose we can draw on a comprehensive pool of questions which are reliable and valid.

If you already want to implement a task-based online survey during the conception phase, we need the according material from you. Screens and wireframes can be rated by the test subjects. For testing your website or a clickable prototype we need an online operational version or a version that is already callable in the internet. For the comparison with offers of your competitors we just need their URLs.

What do you receive from us?

Provided services at a glance:

• Conception and creation of an online questionnaire or consulting during the questionnaire creation.
• Recruiting of test attendees who are according to your target-group by our online-access-panel.
• Programming of the online questionnaire (incl. integration of pictures, audio and video files).
• Implementation of the survey & data analyses.
• Interpretative chart report with the following contents:
  • Management summary
  • Comprehensive illustration of the results from survey data (tabular/graphical preparation).
  • Data interpretation: identification of the reasons and causes for the ascertained data.
  • Concrete guidance and optimisation recommendations.

These services can be commissioned as a full-service packet or as individual services.

On demand we present the results and findings of the test within a moderated workshop.

Do you have any further questions? Please do not hesitate to contact us! We would like to consult you.