In usability testing, what is the goal of formative testing?

The primary goal of formative testing in usability testing is to discover problems so that they can be addressed and resolved during the design process. This type of testing is conducted while a product or system is still under development, allowing designers and developers to gather insights directly from users. By identifying usability issues early, teams can make informed adjustments and improvements, ultimately leading to a better user experience when the final product is launched.

Formative testing is distinctive in that it focuses on understanding how users interact with a design and what challenges they may encounter, rather than measuring the success of a finished product or validating user satisfaction with it. This approach is crucial for iterative design processes where continuous feedback is essential for refining ideas and enhancing usability before final implementation.