This document discusses a research project led by David Humphreys on user navigation models to determine preferred and efficient options for users. The study, involving two user groups, revealed that mega menus (contextual drop-downs) were preferred for efficiency, while fly-out menus were generally disliked. The research highlights the need for further investigation into navigation models and user preferences.

1. Navigation models… … how people find stuff David Humphreys … user preference vs. efficiency.

2. Who are we? Some of our clients

3. About David & Peak Usability David Humphreys Senior Usability Consultant Peak Usability are Brisbane based Usability & UX services & training

4. Our collective thoughts Our team had pretty strong opinions about a lot of nav models… … but we had no solid test data based on navigation models alone

5. The usual suspects Fly-out menus Dropdowns Index pages Mega-dropdowns Contextual dropdowns

6. Index pages – What we like Supports user decision making – provides context

7. Index pages – What we don’t like Too much text! Too much scrolling! Operational Procedures under Policies & Procedures for QAS and QFRS. 1st of 84 pages only Related information or form appears as a link here which just looks like another link. Related information or form appears as a link here which just looks like another link.

8. Vertical drop downs Good for sites with frequent repeat users e.g. intranets Work well with index pages Needs a good IA & labels

9. Variant – Contextual vertical drop downs Provides more context to support user @iiNet Looks good, particularly the menus/left nav, 10 points for putting phone numbers right there in the 'contact' menu. - @ben_h

10. Flyout menus Evil! Users hate them! “ that thing annoys me so much!” So many issues Don’t support users Users will follow as far at they go Don’t support natural mouse movement Poor fine motor skills? No chance

11. Mega drop downs We have never tested a site with them EBay uses them & Amazon used to. Why? Allow clearer chunking with subheadings “ We know from user testing that mega drop-downs work” Alertbox 23 March 2009

12. Mega drop downs

13. Mega drop downs

14. Aims of the research Meet our curiosity and provide evidence Resolve office arguments Which nav models: Do users prefer ? Is the most efficient to use? Has the best completion rate? These became our test measures

15. Approach Worked with final year HCI students form University of Queensland 2 user groups using different user bases and website IAs QLD RSL (9 users) QUT Library (7 users) Built ‘pure’ interfaces – ‘white sites’ The IA and the UI Fewer variables Tested 4 scenarios on each nav UI

16. Tool we recommended - Naview by Volkside

17. What was actually tested – RSL Group Drop downs Fly-outs

18. What was actually tested (RSL Group) Index pages “ Mega-menu” or contextual dropdowns

19. QUT Library prototypes for testing Drop downs Fly-outs

20. QUT Library prototypes for testing Index pages Mega drop down

21. Early results

22. Navigation model preference – RSL group Users preferred mega menus (contextual dropdowns) for efficiency* Landing pages were seen as inefficient* Users preferred drop downs for ease of use Fly-outs were seen as hard to use. Source: UQ Research Group 1 Source: UQ Research Group 1

23. Single dropdowns & homepage landing pages were preferred The mega dropdown menu was least preferred Fly outs were better than expected Navigation model preference – QUT group Source: UQ Research Group 2

24. Efficiency (time) - RSL group Mega menus (contextual drop downs) were most efficient!* Split the difference between dropdowns & landing pages The fly-outs caused difficulty for this group Source: UQ Research Group 1 Source: UQ Research Group 1

25. Efficiency (time) – QUT Library The fly-outs performed well for this group What was different? Homepage style landing page also a strong performer The two dropdowns were generally less efficient Source: UQ Research Group 2 Source: UQ Research Group 2

26. Task completion rate – RSL group Mega menus (contextual drop-down) performed the best* Fly-outs the worst Landing pages caused some problems* Dropdowns performed marginally worse Source: UQ Research Group 1

27. QUT Library task completion Landing page was best performer Followed by fly-outs Seemed to be general difficulty with Tasks 3&4 Source: UQ Research Group 2

28. Thanks to our Research Students Group 1 – RSL Chin Zhun (Jerry) Ong Jason Antony Marles Chin Wai Ng Jared Robert Mallett Group 2 – QUT Library Daniel Jon Dawson Jacob Ryan Appleton Jenny Spiers

29. A few caveats We haven’t tested every nav model on the web Not statistically valid Not conclusive We have more to do! Raises more questions than it answers

30. Conclusions & Questions Refine further research - landing pages and dropdowns together Contextual drop downs are remarkably usable Should we stop using fly-outs? Can you have a good one? What about mega drop downs? Was age a factor?

31. Which nav should I use on my site? It depends!

32. Thank you David Humphreys [email_address] @peakusability @davemonkey http:// www.volkside.com/go/ozia /