Providing the right amount of information without over-explaining or giving away how to complete the task helps maintain the integrity of the research process.

In this article, we will explore best practices for writing tasks so that you can obtain meaningful insights from your user testing ventures.

Advice on Writing Task Instructions

Avoid Offering Clues

Tasks should allow participants to navigate on their own without guidance.

Before: Change the date of birth for your account by logging in, clicking on the Account icon and navigating to the Personal Details section.
After: Change the date of birth associated with your account.

Avoid Technical Jargon

Using specialised terms or industry jargon can alienate participants who aren’t familiar with them, so keep language simple and direct.

Before: Use the car configurator to personalise your vehicle.
After: Customise the color of your car’s interior.

Avoid Dependency Between Tasks

Each task should stand alone as much as possible; failure to accomplish one task should not influence the completion of following ones.

Avoid Reusing Interface Language

Testing users’ understanding requires using synonyms instead of repeating interface terms, which can bias their interaction with the product.

Before: Click on the “Apply” button to confirm the submission of your application.
After: Finalise the submission of your application.

Make Tasks Realistic

Tasks should mimic real-world user behaviour as much as possible to ensure the study reflects how users would naturally interact with the product.

Before: Purchase a black midi dress from Armani in the size 36 costing between $200 and $250.
After: Purchase a dress for a cocktail party you are attending next week, with a budget of $300.

Provide Clear Instructions

Vague tasks can confuse users, leading to incomplete or inaccurate feedback.

Before: You are looking for shoes.
After: Find a pair of running shoes and add them to your Shopping Bag.

Give Complete Information

Ensure participants have all the necessary details to complete the task, such as coupon codes or specific instructions.

Before: Use a coupon code to buy a jacket on the website.
After: Use the coupon code SAVE20 to buy a jacket on Zara.com.

Ensure There’s a Clear Goal

The task should have a clearly defined outcome so participants understand when they’ve completed it successfully.

Before: You are shopping for flowers.
After: Find a bouquet of flowers of your liking and add it to the Shopping Bag.

Provide a Time Limit

Keep the study on track by specifying how much time participants should spend on browsing or explorative tasks.

Before: Browse the homepage of the website.
After: Explore the homepage of the website for up to 5 minutes.

Well-written tasks can make or break a user research session. By focusing on clarity, realism, and neutrality, you set up participants to complete tasks in ways that reflect their genuine interaction with the product. This leads to more valuable insights that can be directly applied to improve the user experience.