Long Attention Span

Experienced test moderators share a secret: Usability testing can be tedious and bonng. There are long stretches when seemingly nothing is happening when participants are reading and absorbing, thinking, and sometimes jusi resting. The moderator cannot possess the type of personality that needs new stimulation every 5 to 10 minutes. The moderator must be able to pay attention for long periods of time because there is no predicting when a gem of a discovery wilt arise during a test session. In addition, because the moderator

may view up to 10,15, or 20 sessions, all of which involve observing the same or similar tasks, the ability to stay focused is extremely vital.