메뉴 구조의 평가 방법론으로서 활성화 확산 모델의 타당성 검증: Eye-Tracking 접근 방법

Abstract

This study was designed to validate Spreading Activation Theory (SAT) for an evaluation methodology for menu structure through Eye-Tracking approach. When a visual search is on the way, more eye fixations and time are necessary to visually process complex and vague area. From the aspect of recognition, well-designed menu structures were hypothesized to have fewer numbers of fixations and shorter duration because well-designed menu structures reflecting the users' mental model would be well matched with the product's menu structure, resulting in reducing the number of fixations and duration time. The results show that the shorter reaction times for SAT had significantly fewer numbers of fixation and shorter duration time as the hypothesis for this study stated. In conclusion, SAT was proved to be an effective evaluation methodology for menu structure with the eye tracking equipment. In addition, using SAT instead of the real performance experiment would be useful for designing user-centered systems and convenient information structures because SAT was proven to be the theoretical background for design and evaluation of menu structures.