Re: [IxDA Discuss] Need some help with Drop Down values
Hi Sonal I would agree with the others that when you have so few response options, radio buttons are preferable over drop downs. This is because the radio buttons expose the options to the user and require one less 'click'. The only reason you might choose to use a drop down regardless is because of limited space. With regards to the question about whether or not to include a 'don't know' option, Chauncey is spot on. The point is whether don't know is a valid response for any of your users, given the question. I recently wrote an article on chosing response options for closed questions (i.e. just what you are doing). You might find it useful: http://formulate.com.au/articles/closed-question-response-categories/ Best, Jessica Enders Principal, Formulate Information Design http://formulate.com.au . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=32523 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Need some help with Drop Down values
I think that the addition of a I don't know function would depend on the particular question. If you were asking me Are you going to retire at 65? I could easily see Yes, No, and I don't know since I might be considering future economic changes that are not entirely predictable (I can actually see I don't know as being the most common answer for some age groups). So, I think that a good answer to your question would require specific knowledge of the questions. Chauncey On Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 5:56 AM, सोनल Sonal Nigam [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi I would like to know about the drop down values for the forms that I have been creating recently. The values are only Yes and No for the dropdowns varying from 5-9 in number in a single form. I just want to know how best it is to provide the user with a YES, NO and I don't KNOW as the values for dropdown? Any best practices regarding whether the I dont know should or should not be provided to the user? Will it confuse them? Assist them? The app is a financial application helping user choose the best financial product suiting their needs. All comments welcome!!! Cheers Sonal Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Need some help with Drop Down values
On Aug 29, 2008, at 5:56 AM, Sonal Nigam wrote: I would like to know about the drop down values for the forms that I have been creating recently. The values are only Yes and No for the dropdowns varying from 5-9 in number in a single form. I just want to know how best it is to provide the user with a YES, NO and I don't KNOW as the values for dropdown? Any best practices regarding whether the I dont know should or should not be provided to the user? Will it confuse them? Assist them? Hi Sonal, In general, if I were designing forms with Yes, No, and I don't know, I'd probably use radio buttons instead of drop downs. Ergonomically more efficient and cleaner in the design. As Chauncey suggested, if you could share some sample questions, it might be easier to answer your main question. Jared Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Need some help with Drop Down values
Jared makes a good point. There were actually a few studies comparing widgets for exclusive choice questions and radio buttons fared well in that study. So there is a question of efficiency, whether the question would make sense with an I don't know, and also how much space you have (drop-downs take up more space than two or more radio buttons). Chauncey On Mon, Sep 1, 2008 at 1:07 PM, Jared Spool [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Aug 29, 2008, at 5:56 AM, Sonal Nigam wrote: I would like to know about the drop down values for the forms that I have been creating recently. The values are only Yes and No for the dropdowns varying from 5-9 in number in a single form. I just want to know how best it is to provide the user with a YES, NO and I don't KNOW as the values for dropdown? Any best practices regarding whether the I dont know should or should not be provided to the user? Will it confuse them? Assist them? Hi Sonal, In general, if I were designing forms with Yes, No, and I don't know, I'd probably use radio buttons instead of drop downs. Ergonomically more efficient and cleaner in the design. As Chauncey suggested, if you could share some sample questions, it might be easier to answer your main question. Jared Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Need some help with Drop Down values
Hi,, What I'd recommend is that these simple answer- binary or ternary type drop downs be avoided - especially when there is a quantity of them with identical answers. This of course only applies when the selections are static choices (not dynamically filled names, etc). Each one causes more user interaction than just have a set of radio buttons. I prefer to follow the KISS principle. best, 'mark Chauncey Wilson wrote: I think that the addition of a I don't know function would depend on the particular question. If you were asking me Are you going to retire at 65? I could easily see Yes, No, and I don't know since I might be considering future economic changes that are not entirely predictable (I can actually see I don't know as being the most common answer for some age groups). So, I think that a good answer to your question would require specific knowledge of the questions. Chauncey On Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 5:56 AM, सोनल Sonal Nigam [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi I would like to know about the drop down values for the forms that I have been creating recently. The values are only Yes and No for the dropdowns varying from 5-9 in number in a single form. I just want to know how best it is to provide the user with a YES, NO and I don't KNOW as the values for dropdown? Any best practices regarding whether the I dont know should or should not be provided to the user? Will it confuse them? Assist them? The app is a financial application helping user choose the best financial product suiting their needs. All comments welcome!!! Cheers Sonal Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
