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Asking multiple questions about several items: the design of matrix structures on application forms.
Applied Ergonomics
|March 1, 1978
Summary
Placing application form questions in row headings improves user performance compared to column headings. This layout also simplifies adding notes and using tick boxes instead of error-prone letter codes.
Area of Science:
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Form Design
- Usability Studies
Background:
- Application forms commonly use column headings for questions.
- Current form design practices may lead to user errors and inefficiencies.
- Alternative question placement and response methods warrant investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the performance of application forms with questions in column versus row headings.
- To evaluate the impact of question placement on error rates and completion time.
- To assess the usability of different response formats, such as letter codes versus tick boxes.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted to test different form layouts.
- Participants completed application forms with questions presented in column headings versus row headings.
- Error rates and time taken for form completion were recorded and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Locating questions in row headings resulted in significantly better user performance than column headings.
- Row headings facilitated the inclusion of supplementary notes.
- Using tick boxes for answers proved more efficient and less error-prone than letter codes.
Conclusions:
- Form design significantly impacts user performance and efficiency.
- Row headings are preferable to column headings for question placement on application forms.
- Tick boxes offer a superior response mechanism compared to letter codes for matrix-style questions.