Dscout "missions" vs UserTesting "tests"
What UserTesting refers to as “tests” Dscout calls “missions” (or “studies”). Missions are the fielding tools you’ll use to actually collect data and insights from participants. Let’s take a look at the study types available in Dscout and highlight their closest UserTesting equivalent.
Note: Keep in mind that Dscout uses “study” and “mission” interchangeably when referring to research methods. You may see both terms throughout this course and elsewhere in the Dscout help center.
Dscout study types
Missions/studies are where the bulk of your research happens, so we offer four different methods designed to help you gather exactly the information you’re looking for. Here’s a breakdown of each:
Media survey
Unmoderated tool to gather quick data using a combination of media-rich questions, including card sorting, photo responses, and more.
Survey
Concept testing, A/B tests, competitor reviews, message testing, mixed-method studies.
Usability test
Unmoderated tool to gather quick data using task-based questions, resulting in a screen recording of the entire participant’s session.
Unmoderated test (either think-out-loud test or interaction test)
Website, app, and prototype feedback with tasks and metrics.
Diary study
Unmoderated tool to gather data over time in entries submitted at a cadence of your choosing.
N/a—this is something UserTesting doesn’t support. An entirely new research method for you to make use of in Dscout!
Exploring journeys, habits, and in-context behaviors over time.
Interview
Moderated tool to conduct live interviews with participants using Dscout’s built-in video chat functionality.
Live conversation
Deep dives, exploratory conversations, and follow-ups with participants.
Dscout’s fielding tools are purpose-built, but they’re also designed to be used together. For example, you might start with a media survey to learn what features your users might be most interested in. From those responses, you might identify a handful of participants you want to hear more from, so you can invite them to a follow-up interview. Then, once you have a prototype to test, you can launch a usability test to see how users interact with what you’ve built. Finally, you might launch a diary study to see how people use the final feature over time.
Note: You can learn more about Dscout’s study types in our Dscout quickstart guide or through our dedicated learning paths (coming soon!).
Next, let’s look at some specific differences between how you might be used to running usability tests in UserTesting and how you’ll run those studies in Dscout.