BIB-VERSION:: CS-TR-v2.0
ID:: UMCP-CSD//CS-TR-1591
ENTRY:: October 3, 1996
TITLE:: An evaluation of jump-ahead techniques for frequent menu users  
AUTHOR:: Laverson, Alan
AUTHOR:: Norman, Kent L.
AUTHOR:: Shneiderman, Ben
DATE:: December 1985
ABSTRACT:: 
Menu selection systems provide a means of selecting operations 
and retrieving information which requires little training and reduces 
the need for memorizing complex command sequences.  However, a 
major disadvantage of many menu selection systems is that 
experienced users cannot traverse the menu tree significantly faster 
than novices.  A common solution to this problem is to provide the 
menu selection system with a jump-ahead capability.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate two jump-ahead 
methods (type-ahead and direct-access).  In the type-ahead method 
the user anticipates a selection on each of several successive menus 
and enters as many selections at one time as desired.  In the direct-
access method, each menu frame is assigned a unique name which the 
user must enter to locate it.

Thirty-two students were given training on an information 
retrieval system for college course information and were required to 
learn the two jump-ahead methods in a counter-balanced design.  The 
direct-access method resulted in fewer traversals to learn the 
system, lower error rates, and reduced learning time.  The subjective 
impressions, obtained from post-experiment questionnaires and oral 
comments indicated that the direct-access jump-ahead method was 
also preferred in a frequently used menu selection system.
(Also cross referenced as CAR-TR-168) 
END:: UMCP-CSD//CS-TR-1591