BIB-VERSION:: CS-TR-v2.0
ID:: UMCP-CSD//CS-TR-1477
ENTRY:: September 27, 1996
TITLE:: Performance on content free menus as a function of study method  
AUTHOR:: Schwartz, Jeffrey P.
AUTHOR:: Norman, Kent L.
AUTHOR:: Shneiderman, Ben
DATE:: March 1985
ABSTRACT:: 
Novice computer users learned a content-free menu structure 
using one of four methods:  Studying by trial and error, studying 
individual choice sequences, studying individual menu frames, or 
studying a global tree diagram.  Following study, subjects searched 
for target items located at the bottom of the menu structure.  The 
study-test sequence was repeated and subjects were finally asked to 
recall and reconstruct as much of the structure as possible.  The 
Global Tree and Trial and Error groups found more targets, took less 
time, and recalled more items than the Command Sequence and Frame 
Groups.  Results are consistent with the ideas that (1) menu items 
gain meaningfulness through use, (2) upper-level item familiarity is 
not critical to menu-based performance, and (3) acquiring a mental 
model of the menu is critical to performance.
Also cross referenced as CAR-TR-110
END:: UMCP-CSD//CS-TR-1477