Evaluating the Structure of Your Website or App

Tree testing involves presenting participants with a “tree” structure, which represents the navigational hierarchy of a website or app, without any visual design elements like menus, buttons, or colors. Participants are given tasks or questions that require them to locate specific pieces of information. Their choices and paths through the tree structure are tracked to see how easily and accurately they can find the content.

This testing method focuses solely on how well the site's structure and labels guide users to the correct information. It helps teams optimize the organization of content before committing to the visual design phase.

Key aspects of tree testing include:

• Simplified Navigation Structure: A bare-bones representation of the site's hierarchy, stripped of design elements.
• Task-Based Testing: Participants are asked to find specific content or complete tasks using only the tree structure.
• User Paths: The paths users take through the structure are tracked, showing whether they can locate the information easily or get lost.
• Success Rate: The percentage of users who successfully find the correct information, helping identify problem areas in the information architecture.

Benefits of Tree Testing

1. Improved Information Architecture: Tree testing helps teams understand if the content structure is intuitive and if users can easily navigate to find the information they need.
2. Early Issue Detection: By testing the site’s hierarchy early, potential usability issues can be identified and resolved before investing time in visual design or development.
3. Objective Feedback: Tree testing provides clear, data-driven insights into user behavior, showing where users succeed or struggle when navigating the structure.
4. Cost and Time Efficiency: Since tree testing focuses solely on the structure, it allows for quick iterations and refinements without requiring fully designed or developed pages.
5. Informed Decision-Making: The results of tree testing guide decisions on content organization, labeling, and navigation, ensuring a user-friendly experience.

Real-World Example of Tree Testing

An e-commerce website redesign team might use tree testing to validate its new product categories. Before building the visual design, the team creates a tree structure representing the site's content hierarchy. Participants are asked to find a specific product, such as "women’s running shoes." By analyzing the paths participants take, the team can see if users navigate to the correct category or if the labeling and structure need improvement.

How to Conduct Tree Testing

To conduct a tree test, first create a simplified tree structure representing your website’s navigation or content hierarchy. Use a tree testing tool like Optimal Workshop or Treejack to set up the test. Develop specific tasks that require participants to find content within the tree, and track their navigation paths. Analyze the results to determine where users struggle or succeed, and refine the information architecture based on the findings.

Conclusion

Tree testing is a valuable tool for evaluating and optimizing the information architecture of a website or app. By focusing on structure and navigation, it helps ensure that users can easily find what they’re looking for, leading to a smoother, more intuitive user experience.

Need Help Conducting Tree Testing?

Artifact specializes in tree testing and information architecture optimization. Let’s work together to ensure your website’s structure is user-friendly and intuitive, setting the foundation for a seamless experience.