Working towards Usable Forms on the Worldwide Web: Optimizing Multiple Selection Interface Elements

If an interactive form in the worldwide web requires users to select multiple answers from a given list, this can be implemented in several ways. This paper discusses an empirical study with 𝑛=106 participants, where two interface elements for choosing multiple answers (checkboxes and list boxes) we...

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Main Authors: Javier A. Bargas-Avila, Olivia Brenzikofer, Alexandre N. Tuch, Sandra P. Roth, Klaus Opwis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2011-01-01
Series:Advances in Human-Computer Interaction
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/347171
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author Javier A. Bargas-Avila
Olivia Brenzikofer
Alexandre N. Tuch
Sandra P. Roth
Klaus Opwis
author_facet Javier A. Bargas-Avila
Olivia Brenzikofer
Alexandre N. Tuch
Sandra P. Roth
Klaus Opwis
author_sort Javier A. Bargas-Avila
collection DOAJ
description If an interactive form in the worldwide web requires users to select multiple answers from a given list, this can be implemented in several ways. This paper discusses an empirical study with 𝑛=106 participants, where two interface elements for choosing multiple answers (checkboxes and list boxes) were compared. Results showed that participants chose the same amount of options in both conditions but were faster and more satisfied using checkboxes. The time differences disappeared after several trials, revealing a learning effect for the list box element. As a conclusion, it can be recommended that website developers and online researchers should use checkboxes instead of list boxes for their online forms and questionnaires to enhance usability and user satisfaction—at least for a smaller number of options.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1687-5893
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language English
publishDate 2011-01-01
publisher Wiley
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series Advances in Human-Computer Interaction
spelling doaj-art-b573e86969db4a61a11c7b2e8c4df5212025-08-20T03:39:28ZengWileyAdvances in Human-Computer Interaction1687-58931687-59072011-01-01201110.1155/2011/347171347171Working towards Usable Forms on the Worldwide Web: Optimizing Multiple Selection Interface ElementsJavier A. Bargas-Avila0Olivia Brenzikofer1Alexandre N. Tuch2Sandra P. Roth3Klaus Opwis4Department of Psychology, Center for Cognitive Psychology and Methodology, University of Basel, 4055 Basel, SwitzerlandDepartment of Psychology, Center for Cognitive Psychology and Methodology, University of Basel, 4055 Basel, SwitzerlandDepartment of Psychology, Center for Cognitive Psychology and Methodology, University of Basel, 4055 Basel, SwitzerlandDepartment of Psychology, Center for Cognitive Psychology and Methodology, University of Basel, 4055 Basel, SwitzerlandDepartment of Psychology, Center for Cognitive Psychology and Methodology, University of Basel, 4055 Basel, SwitzerlandIf an interactive form in the worldwide web requires users to select multiple answers from a given list, this can be implemented in several ways. This paper discusses an empirical study with 𝑛=106 participants, where two interface elements for choosing multiple answers (checkboxes and list boxes) were compared. Results showed that participants chose the same amount of options in both conditions but were faster and more satisfied using checkboxes. The time differences disappeared after several trials, revealing a learning effect for the list box element. As a conclusion, it can be recommended that website developers and online researchers should use checkboxes instead of list boxes for their online forms and questionnaires to enhance usability and user satisfaction—at least for a smaller number of options.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/347171
spellingShingle Javier A. Bargas-Avila
Olivia Brenzikofer
Alexandre N. Tuch
Sandra P. Roth
Klaus Opwis
Working towards Usable Forms on the Worldwide Web: Optimizing Multiple Selection Interface Elements
Advances in Human-Computer Interaction
title Working towards Usable Forms on the Worldwide Web: Optimizing Multiple Selection Interface Elements
title_full Working towards Usable Forms on the Worldwide Web: Optimizing Multiple Selection Interface Elements
title_fullStr Working towards Usable Forms on the Worldwide Web: Optimizing Multiple Selection Interface Elements
title_full_unstemmed Working towards Usable Forms on the Worldwide Web: Optimizing Multiple Selection Interface Elements
title_short Working towards Usable Forms on the Worldwide Web: Optimizing Multiple Selection Interface Elements
title_sort working towards usable forms on the worldwide web optimizing multiple selection interface elements
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/347171
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