What is a key feature of unmoderated usability studies?

Unmoderated usability studies are characterized by their design, which allows participants to complete tasks independently, without the need for a moderator’s guidance. This approach enables researchers to gather data on how users naturally interact with a product in a realistic environment, such as their home or office, rather than in a controlled setting. By eliminating the moderator, the study captures genuine user behaviors and thoughts, providing valuable insights into usability issues.

In contrast, requiring a moderator to guide participants would define moderated usability studies, where facilitators interact with users to clarify tasks and probe their experiences. Additionally, a focus on live interviews with users indicates a discussion format typical of qualitative research methods rather than an unmoderated setup. Lastly, controlling the environment for participant interactions limits the authenticity of the data gathered in an unmoderated usability study, as it can interfere with natural usage patterns. Thus, the feature of participants completing tasks without human guidance is what distinctly defines unmoderated usability studies.