User Testing

User Testing

Use this guide for Civic Tech user testing day. We are testing an early version of the Accessible Housing Bridge. We are evaluating whether the platform is clear and usable—not whether the tester makes mistakes.

Before testing day

1. Bring a laptop or other device you normally use to browse the web.
2. Let the team know if you use assistive technology or need an accommodation. This is optional, but it helps us prepare.

How a session works

Allow about 30–45 minutes.

1. Choose the testing track closest to your experience: housing searcher, housing lister, or admin.
2. Complete the tasks for that track using test information only.
3. Think aloud as you work. Say what you expect to happen, what you are looking for, and anything that feels confusing.
4. Before the session ends, share your feedback in the #project-accessible-housing-bridge Slack channel.

You can stop, take a break, or skip a question at any time.

Housing searcher track

This track is for people who search for housing for themselves or others, including support workers and community organizations.

Tasks

1. Imagine a client with specific housing and accessibility needs.
2. Search for a rental that could meet those needs.
3. Open one or more listings and decide whether they provide enough information to assess the fit.
4. Using any listing, find out how to apply and what would happen next.

Pay attention to the search and filters, listing details, accessibility information, application steps, and anything missing that you would normally need.

Housing lister track

This track is for landlords, building managers, housing providers, and anyone who creates or manages rental listings.

Tasks

1. Think of an accessible housing unit you know. You may obscure its address, but keep its real features in mind.
2. Create and publish a listing.
3. Change some information and edit the listing.
4. Delete the listing from My Listings, then confirm that it is no longer publicly visible.

Pay attention to what information you have available, which fields are difficult to complete, how clear the accessibility features are, and whether this process fits your existing workflow.

Admin track

This track is for people who will manage users, roles, permissions, and custom listing fields.

Tasks

1. Send a user invite using the role, permissions, and test email address provided by the facilitator.
2. Open the custom fields dashboard.
3. Create a new field in an existing category.
4. Edit an existing field.
5. Add another custom field and create a new category for it using the Category field.

Pay attention to whether roles and permissions are understandable, whether actions are easy to find, and how clearly field visibility affects listing creation and display.

Guidance for facilitators

• Remind testers that we are testing the platform, not them.
• Ask neutral prompts such as “What are you looking for?” or “What did you expect to happen?”
• Do not explain the interface unless the tester cannot continue. If you help, note where help was needed.
• Record visible accessibility barriers, confusing language, missing information, dead ends, and unexpected behaviour.
• Never ask a tester to enter real client, tenant, property, or other sensitive information.
• Leave enough time at the end for the tester to share their feedback in the #project-accessible-housing-bridge Slack channel.