A few years back (2005) Christine Perfetti wrote a great article about 5-second tests (http://www.uie.com/articles/five_second_test/), a simple usability testing technique to test that content pages are understandable to users and that the key / priority information is being communicated.

The 5-second test in a nutshell.

Most content pages have (or should have) a distinct primary purpose, the 5 second test aims to quickly check that the design makes this primary purpose obvious to a user…

How to do it:

• Give the user a simple task – e.g. “find out what the email updates include”; “ can you see the property location on a map ”; “ what sizes are available ”
• Tell the user they will be shown the page for 5 seconds, and ask them to try and remember everything they see for this short period
• When 5 seconds is up minimise the window and ask them to write down everything they remember about the page
• When they are done ask them the 2 questions: “ What is the most important information on the page”, and depending on the task “ how would you go about finding what the email updates include ” / “ how would you go about finding where the property is located ” / “ how would you go about finding what sizes are available”

Now analyse the results:

• Listen to the users initial impressions – this will tell you if the content page is clear and concise, understandable pages allow the user to quickly recall critical content and tell you the main purpose of the page

When is it good to use the 5 second test?

For quick improvements to content pages where users have said the site’s content pages are cluttered or confusing.

SEE: http://www.uie.com/articles/five_second_test/