Variation sets

Elevate your research process and uncover invaluable insights with variation sets. Enhance your next study using this powerful feature.

Meagan Philpot

Top 4 use cases for variation sets

How it works

Unlock the potential of variation sets

Frequently asked questions on variation sets

Imagine being able to run the same test on different versions of a design, or multiple tests on the same design, all while ensuring that each participant is unique and unbiased by previous tests. That's the power of variation sets!

This feature allows you to iterate on your design and test different variations to determine which performs best. In this article, we'll provide some example use cases so you can see how this feature works in Lyssna.

Top 4 use cases for variation sets

We explore the top four use cases for variation sets and provide examples of how they can be used to enhance your testing process and gain valuable insights into user behavior.

Comparing design elements

Identify the optimal combination of design elements to create an intuitive and visually appealing interface using variation sets. Here, you can run a comparative analysis of design elements, such as layouts, color schemes, or typography choices.

By presenting your participants with different variations of a design, you can gauge their preferences and gather feedback on which elements are more effective in achieving the desired user experience.

For instance, when testing an ecommerce website, a variation set can be used to compare different product page layouts. Variation A may feature the product image on the left and the description on the right, while Variation B may have a reverse layout. By collecting user feedback and observing their interactions, you can determine which layout better showcases the product and improves user engagement.

Reducing bias in test results

A common challenge in usability testing is avoiding bias in participant responses. Variation sets can help with this.

Let's take preference tests as an example. While they're useful when you want to compare multiple designs simultaneously, it's important to consider that this approach may introduce bias into the feedback, as participants can be influenced by seeing multiple options.

By employing variation sets, you can ensure that participants only see one version of a design. For example, Design A is sent to one group of participants and Design B is sent to another group. This way, you’re able to get useful feedback on both designs separately.

Conducting preference testing for conversion optimization

Determine which variation yields the highest conversion rates by testing different versions of a call-to-action button, form layout, or checkout process. This enables data-driven decision-making and empowers you to make informed choices that enhance the overall user journey and maximize conversions.

For example, say a SaaS platform wants to optimize their signup process. By creating a variation set with different registration forms, they can test versions such as asking for minimal information in Variation A or for more detailed information in Variation B. Through preference testing, you can analyze the results gather and user feedback to determine the most effective registration form to maximize signups.

Validating new features or functionality

When designing new features or functionality, variation sets can help validate their effectiveness. By creating variations of your prototypes that include or exclude new elements, you can assess user reactions and gather feedback on the perceived value and usability of the additions. This enables you to make data-backed decisions about the integration and refinement of new features, ensuring they align with user needs and expectations.

Let’s say a task management tool is introducing a new collaboration feature. They create two low-fi prototypes: Variation A includes a customizable photo/avatar of the commenter and Variation B doesn't.

By gathering user feedback, you can validate which variation is more effective at facilitating collaboration and meeting user needs.

How it works

Follow these steps to create a variation set on your next test.

Click Make a variation from your preferred test. If you're on the dashboard, click Create variation set.
Name your variation set.
Click Copy variation and create variations.
Click Save changes on the modal.

Unlock the potential of variation sets

By using variation sets in your research, you can improve the quality of your feedback and make more informed decisions about your design choices. With the flexibility and convenience offered by variation sets in Lyssna, you can confidently iterate on your designs and create a better user experience for your audience.

Variation sets is a feature available on our Basic, Pro, and Enterprise plans. For more information, check out our plans to see which is right for you.