Cognitive Factors in the Use of Menus and Trees: An Experiment

Users without prior computer experience employed a menu-and-tree interface to search a database relevant to telecommunications services. Detailed data were recorded on the latency of each response and whether an error was made. The depth, level, vertical position, number of options, and trial were found to significantly affect response latency. The level, content, and side of the screen on which the choice was displayed significantly affected error rate. The results of the experiment and additional issues in cognitive human factors are discussed.