Abstract
We conducted an experiment to find out which cognitive processes underlie the high correlations between aesthetic impression and perceived usability of a user interface reported in several studies. Four online shops differing in colour scheme and usability level were created and tested before and after an interaction period to gain support for two differing models of explanation. One stems from Norman who hypothesizes that mood is a mediator between design and perceived usability whereas the other is based on the well known “What is beautiful is good” phenomenon from social psychology and market research. The data provide support for the approach of Norman whereas the high correlations couldn’t be replicated. Another interesting finding was that our results militate rather for a “What is usable is beautiful”- relation than the other way round as hypothesized.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Lindgaard, G., Dudek, C.: What is this evasive beast we call user satisfaction? Interacting with Computers 15, 429–452 (2003)
Preece, J., Rogers, Y., Sharp, H.: Interaction design: Beyond human-computer interaction. Wiley, New York (2002)
Hassenzahl, M.: The effect of perceived hedonic quality on product appealingness. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction 13, 481–499 (2001)
Kurosu, M., Kashimura, K.: Apparent usability vs. inherent usability: experimental analysis of the determinants of the apparent usability. In: Conference Companion of human factors in computing systems, Denver, Colorado, pp. 292–293 (1995)
Tractinsky, N.: Aesthetics and Apparent Usability: Empirical Assessing Cultural and Methodological Issues. In: CHI 1997, Electronic Publications (1997), http://www.acm.org/sigchi/chi97/proceedings/paper/nt.htm
Tractinsky, N., Katz, A.S., Ikar, D.: What is beautiful is usable. Interacting with Computers 13, 127–145 (2000)
Hassenzahl, M.: The Interplay of Beauty, Goodness and Usability in Interactive Products. Human-Computer Interaction 19, 319–349 (2004)
Schrepp, M., Held, T., Laugwitz, B.: On the influence of hedonic quality on the attractiveness of user interfaces of business management software. Interacting with Computers 18(5), 1055–1069 (2006)
Igbaria, M., Schiffman, S.J., Wieckowski, T.J.: The respective roles of perceived usefulness and perceived fun in the acceptance of microcomputer technology. Behaviour & Information Technology 13, 349–361 (1994)
Holzinger, A., Searle, G., Kleinberger, T., Seffah, A., Javahery, H.: Investigating Usability Metrics for the Design and Development of Applications for the Elderly. In: Miesenberger, K., Klaus, J., Zagler, W., Karshmer, A. (eds.) ICCHP 2008. LNCS, vol. 5105, pp. 98–105. Springer, Heidelberg (2008)
Norman, D.: Emotional Design: Why We Love (Or Hate) Everyday Things. Basic Books, Boulder Colorado (2003)
Isen, A.M.: Positive affect and decision making. In: Lewis, M., Haviland, J.M. (eds.) Handbook of emotions, 2nd edn., pp. 417–435. Guilford Press, New York (2000)
Petty, R., Cacioppo, J.: Communication and Persuasion. Central and Peripheral Routes to attitude change. Springer, New York (1986)
Eagly, A.H., Chaiken, S.: The psychology of attitudes. Harcourt Brace, Forth Worth (1993)
Schwarz, N.: Situated cognition and the wisdom of feelings. In: Feldman-Barrett, L., Salovey, P. (eds.) The wisdom of feeling: Psychological processes in emotional intelligence, pp. 144–166. Guilford Press, New York (2002)
Fiedler, K.: Affective states trigger processes of assimilation and accomodation. In: Martin, L.L., Clore, G.L. (eds.) Theories of Mood and Cognition: A User’s Guidebook, pp. 85–98. Erlbaum, Mahwah (2001)
Dion, K.K., Berscheid, E., Walster, E.: What is beautiful is good. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 24, 285–290 (1972)
Eagly, A.H., Ashmore, R.D., Makhijani, M.G., Longo, L.C.: What is beautiful is good, but...: A meta-analytic review of research on the physical attractiveness stereotype. Psychological Bulletin 110, 109–128 (1991)
Dick, A., Dipankar, C., Gabriel, B.: Memory-Based Inference During Consumer Choice. Journal of Consumer Research 17, 82–93 (1990)
Ford, G.T., Smith, R.A.: Inferential Beliefs in Consumer Evaluations: An Assessment of Alternative Processing Strategies. Journal of Consumer Research 14, 363–371 (1987)
Holzinger, A., Kickmeier-Rust, M., Albert, D.: Dynamic Media in Computer Science Education; Content Complexity and Learning Performance: Is Less More? Educational Technology & Society 11, 419–432 (2008)
STRATO AG Online Shops, http://www.strato.de/shops/index.html
Adobe Labs Kuler, http://kuler.adobe.com/
Bradley, R.A., Terry, M.E.: Rank analysis of incomplete block designs, I. the method of paired comparisons. Biometrika 39, 324–345 (1952)
Luce, R.D.: Individual Choice Behaviours: A Theoretical Analysis. Wiley, New York (1959)
Nielsen, J.: Enhancing the explanatory power of usability heuristics. In: Proceedings of the ACM CHI 1994 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp. 152–158. ACM Press, New York (1994)
Laugwitz, B., Schrepp, M., Held, T.: Konstruktion eines Fragebogens zur Messung der User Experience von Softwareprodukten. In: Heinecke, A.M., Paul, H. (eds.) Mensch & Computer 2006: Mensch und Computer im StrukturWandel, pp. 125–134. Oldenbourg Verlag, München (2006)
Bradley, M., Lang, P.: Measuring emotion: The Self-Assessment Manikin and the semantic differential. Journal of Behavioral Therapy & Experimental Psychiatry 1, 49–59 (1994)
Little, A.C., Burt, D.M., Perrett, D.I.: What is good is beautiful: Face preference reflects desired personality. Personality and Individual Differences 41, 1107–1118 (2006)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Ilmberger, W., Schrepp, M., Held, T. (2008). Cognitive Processes Causing the Relationship between Aesthetics and Usability. In: Holzinger, A. (eds) HCI and Usability for Education and Work. USAB 2008. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 5298. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-89350-9_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-89350-9_4
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-89349-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-89350-9
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)