optimal range of choices to offer?

It depends on the task. For instance: if a user has to perform a task
every day by going through a series of short menus it will soon get
pretty annoying. For regular tasks menus can contain a lot of items,
because the user will soon know his way within the menu. When a
single menu gets larger visually grouping items in several categories
will help users to read the menu.

For tasks that are performed only once a step-by-step approach using
choices between only a few (2-5) options will be better. It might not
be faster than a single choice menu, but the user experiences more
control on the process.

Gr. Ivo

On 27-feb-2007, at 3:33, Ari Feldman wrote:

> how are these choice being displayed? via a drop down menu of some
> sort?
>
> there's something called hick's law that mathematically proves in some
> instances that it takes less time to make selections from a single
> menu of n
> options than multiple menus of n choices.
>
>
>
> On 2/26/07, Klein Info Design <info at kleininfodesign.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hi
>>
>> Related to the "no arbitrary rules for clicks" discussion, I'm
>> interested
>> in
>> recommendations for the optimal number of choices to offer users in a
>> wizard
>> or web app. At what point do we stop being helpful and start
>> overwhelming
>> their ability to choose?
>>
>>
>>
>> For example, to guide users to a solution for "How can I reduce
>> global
>> climate change?"
>>
>>
>>
>> First level choices:
>>
>> Make different transportation choices
>>
>> Change your buying habits
>>
>> Modify your home
>>
>> Influence your government
>>
>> Choice 5
>>
>> Choice 6
>>
>> Choice 7
>>
>> Choice 8
>>
>>
>>
>> Second level for user who picked transportation choices in #1:
>>
>> Use Transit
>>
>> Ride a Bike
>>
>> Walk
>>
>> Plan errands to minimize the number of trips
>>
>> Choice 5
>>
>> Choice 6
>>
>> Choice 7
>>
>> Choice 8
>>
>>
>>
>> Any ideal # of choices to offer? Is there an ideal # of words per
>> choice?
>> Thanks! - Kathleen
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Kathleen Klein
>>
>> Klein Info Design LLC
>>
>> HYPERLINK "http://www.kleininfodesign.com"www.kleininfodesign.com
>>
>> 206-781-2615
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> No virus found in this outgoing message.
>> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>> Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.4/703 - Release Date:
>> 2/26/2007
>> 2:56 PM
>>
>> ________________________________________________________________
>> Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)!
>> To post to this list ....... discuss at ixda.org
>> List Guidelines ............ http://listguide.ixda.org/
>> List Help .................. http://listhelp.ixda.org/
>> (Un)Subscription Options ... http://subscription-options.ixda.org/
>> Announcements List ......... http://subscribe-announce.ixda.org/
>> Questions .................. lists at ixda.org
>> Home ....................... http://ixda.org/
>> Resource Library ........... http://resources.ixda.org
>
>
>
>
> --
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> http://www.flyingyogi.com
> ________________________________________________________________
> Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)!
> To post to this list ....... discuss at ixda.org
> List Guidelines ............ http://listguide.ixda.org/
> List Help .................. http://listhelp.ixda.org/
> (Un)Subscription Options ... http://subscription-options.ixda.org/
> Announcements List ......... http://subscribe-announce.ixda.org/
> Questions .................. lists at ixda.org
> Home ....................... http://ixda.org/
> Resource Library ........... http://resources.ixda.org