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Understanding Tree Testing

What is Tree Testing?

Tree testing is a UX research method used to evaluate the findability and effectiveness of a website or app's information architecture. It involves testing the navigational structure of a product without the influence of visual design, navigation aids, or other elements that may distract or bias users.

By conducting tree testing, we aim to address the fundamental question, "Can users find what they are looking for?" This research technique allows us to evaluate the effectiveness of our information architecture and assess whether users can navigate through the content intuitively, locate specific topics, and comprehend the overall structure of our product. It provides valuable insights into the findability and clarity of our content hierarchy, enabling us to refine and optimize the user experience.

In tree testing, participants are presented with a simplified representation of the product's information hierarchy in the form of a text-based tree structure. This structure typically consists of labels representing different sections, categories, or pages of the website or app. The participants are then given specific tasks or scenarios and asked to locate specific information within the tree.

What is Information Architecture(IA)?

Information architecture (IA) refers to the structural design and organization of information within a system, such as a website, application, or other digital product. It involves arranging and categorizing information in a logical and coherent manner to facilitate effective navigation, retrieval, and understanding by users.

Why do we use Tree Sorting?

Here are some of the things that tree testing can be used for:

  • Evaluate Information Architecture: Tree testing allows researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of the information architecture (IA) of a website or app. Testing the navigational structure in isolation, without the influence of visual design or other distractions, it provides a focused assessment of how well users can find and understand information within the product. For example, you might want to test whether users can easily find the page that describes your company's history.

 

  • Assess Findability: Tree testing helps determine the findability of specific topics or pieces of information. By presenting users with tasks or scenarios and observing their navigation through the tree structure, researchers can identify any difficulties or inefficiencies in locating desired information. This insight helps refine the IA and improve the overall findability for users. For example, you might want to test whether users find the main categories of your website to be straightforward and easy to understand.

 

  • Identify Navigation Issues: Tree testing allows for the identification of navigation problems, such as incorrect paths, dead ends, or confusing labelling. By analyzing user interactions and collecting feedback, researchers can uncover areas where the IA may be causing confusion or hindering users' ability to navigate efficiently.  For example, you might find that users are having difficulty finding the page that describes your company's products.

Here are some questions that tree testing can answer:

  • What are the most critical topics for users? This question can be used to prioritize the content on your website. By asking users to rank the topics in order of importance, you can get feedback on which topics are most important to them.
  • What are the most common paths that users take through my website? This question can be used to identify the most popular areas of your website. By tracking the paths that users take through your website, you can get feedback on which areas are most popular and which areas need improvement.
  • What are the most common problems that users have finding information on my website? This question can be used to identify the areas of your website that are most difficult to use. By asking users to describe the problems they have found, you can get feedback on how to improve the usability of your website.
  • Do my labels make sense? This question can be used to validate ideas before designing. By asking users to find topics based on their labels, you can get feedback on whether the labels are clear and easy to understand.
  • Is my content grouped logically? This question can be used to test the usability of your navigation. By asking users to find topics based on their location in the hierarchy, you can get feedback on whether the content is grouped logically and easy to navigate.
  • Can users find the information they want easily and quickly? This question can be used to build a foundation for the design that will lay on top of your product structure. By asking users to find topics within a specific amount of time, you can get feedback on whether the information is easy to find and navigate.

How to conduct Tree Testing?

  1. Define your goals. What do you want to achieve with the tree test? Do you want to evaluate the findability of specific topics or subtopics? Do you want to get feedback on the overall hierarchy of your website? Once you know your goals, you can start to develop your tree test.
  2. Create a tree diagram. This is a visual representation of your website's hierarchy. It should show the top-level categories, as well as the subcategories and sub-subcategories. You can use a spreadsheet or a tree-testing tool to create your tree diagram.
  3. Write tasks. The tasks that you give to users will help you to evaluate the findability of topics on your website. The tasks should be specific and measurable. For example, you might ask users to "Find the page that describes our company's history."
  4. Recruit participants. You will need to recruit a group of users who represent your target audience. The participants should be familiar with the type of website that they are testing.
  5. Conduct the tree test. You can conduct the tree test remotely or in person. If you are conducting the test remotely, you will need to use a tree testing tool. The tool will allow you to present the tree diagram to the participants and track their progress.
  6. Analyze the results. The results of the tree test will show you how well users were able to find the topics that you asked them to find. You can use the results to identify areas of the hierarchy that are difficult to understand or navigate.

Best Practices

  • Keep the tasks short and simple.
  • Use clear and concise language.
  • Give the participants enough time to complete the tasks.
  • Ask the participants to think aloud as they are completing the tasks.
     
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