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Evidence for Shifting Cognitive Strategies when Icons Appear in Unexpected Locations
Jonathan D Ericson1, William S Albert1,2
1Bentley University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA.
Human Factors
|December 14, 2022
Summary
Users shift cognitive strategies when website icons are unexpectedly placed, moving from dual-systems to dynamical systems models. This impacts mental workload and cognitive conflict during web interactions.
Area of Science:
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Cognitive Psychology
- Web Design
Background:
- Unexpected icon placement on websites can cause cognitive conflict.
- Prior research aligns with dynamical systems models for icon interaction.
- This study compares dual-systems and dynamical systems models for icon placement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cognitive effects of unexpected icon placement on websites.
- To compare the predictive power of dual-systems and dynamical systems models.
- To understand user cognitive strategy shifts in response to interface design.
Main Methods:
- Participants interacted with icons in expected and unexpected locations.
- Mouse trajectories were recorded and analyzed.
- Trajectories were classified to identify cognitive models used.
Main Results:
- Curved mouse trajectories increased by 11% in unexpected icon locations.
- Straight and change-of-mind trajectories decreased by 12%.
- These findings were statistically significant (p < .001).
Conclusions:
- Users adapt their cognitive strategy based on icon placement.
- A shift from dual-systems to dynamical systems strategy occurs with unexpected icon locations.
- This research has implications for interface design and user experience.
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