Time Stress Effects on Two Menu Selection Systems

Abstract

The optimal number of menu items per display screen has been the topic of considerable debate and study. On the one hand, some designers have packed many items into each menu to conserve space and reduce the number of menus, whereas on the other hand there are designers who prefer a sparse display for menu structures and other videotex i'nformation. This study evaluated the effects of a broad/shallow menu compared to a narrow/deep menu structure under two conditions of time stress for inexperienced users. Results indicated that time stress both slowed performance, and increased errors. In addition, it was demonstrated that the broad/shallow menu was faster and resulted in fewer errors discussed.

Depth vs Breath in the Arrangement of Web Links

“…The participants ranked the menus with least depth as the most favorable (The 8 2 structure was favored). Wallace et al (1987) confirmed that broader, shallower trees (4x3 versus 2x6) produced superior performance, and showed that, when users were stressed, they made 96 percent more errors and took 16 percent longer. The stressor was simply an instruction to work quickly ("It is imperative that you finish the task just as quickly as possible").…”

Expandable indexes vs. sequential menus for searching hierarchies on the World Wide Web

“…Jacko and Salvendy build on this framework to suggest that these four characteristics are present as depth increases, and the presence of these four characteristics is responsible for the increase in complexity. Wallace et al (1987) con®rmed that broader, shallower trees (4 x 3 versus 2 x 6) produced superior performance, and showed that, when users were stressed, they made 96% more errors and took 16% longer. The stressor was simply an instruction to work quickly (`It is imperative that you ®nish the task just as quickly as possible').…”

Navigation behavior models for link structure optimization

“…Participants performed search assignments with the various menus and completed a questionnaire afterwards. Most authors found that information could be located faster in broader and shallower menus than in deeper and narrower menus and that the broader and shallower menus were also preferred by the participants (Miller 1981;Snowberry et al 1983;Kiger 1984;Wallace et al 1987;Jacko and Salvendy 1996;Larson and Czerwinski 1998;Zaphiris 2000).…”