Comparing Cascading and Indexed Menu Designs for Differences in Performance and Preference

Three menu layouts were compared for objective and subjective performance, as well as overall preference. The menus structures consisted of an index layout, a vertical cascading layout, and a horizontal cascading layout. Significant differences in search time were revealed between the three menu item layouts that favored the index menu layout. In addition, there was a non-reliable trend that favored the subjective opinion that the index layout was less disorientating than the other two layouts. Moreover, participants selected the index layout as their first preference choice more than the other two layouts. The poorest performer, both objectively and subjectively, was the horizontal layout. Possible reasons for these outcomes are discussed.