The effects of panel arrangement on search performance

This study investigated the effects of panel arrangement on search performance. The three variables of this experiment were panel arrangement, movement distance, and icon size. Participants were asked to search for target items within a four stimulus array which included: round, horizontal, square, and vertical panel arrangements. Four movement distances were used: √1, √2, √4, and √5. Three icon sizes were examined: 20, 24, and 27 mm. Exposure duration was adopted as the dependent factor which was also treated as the within-subjects factor. Notably, this study is concerned with the user’s icon-clicking distance focusing on two distances, namely, the distance between the start position and the first icon on the panel (P1), and the distance between two icons (P2). Results showed that these three factors of panel arrangement, movement distance, and icon size have caused significant effects on the user’s search performance regarding the two distances mentioned above. Additionally, no difference with regard to search performance was found between the vertical and horizontal arrangements. The results obtained can form design guidelines which are applicable for future human–computer interface design.

► This study investigated four panel arrangements on search performance.
► Distances are P1 (between start position and first icon) and P2 (between two icons).
► Results showed that the effect of panel arrangement was caused only from P1.
► No difference was found between the vertical and horizontal arrangements.