What is the role of attention in information search, object-tracking & optimizing the user experience with online user interfaces?
Questions about user attention is central to my UX & other studies involving search & tracking. I measure user attention in various ways including how accurate and fast users find targeted information, how users move their eyes when looking for information, and how well users detect subtle (non-target) information while searching for some target information. The patterns of search reveal important information about the "load" on attention-- a heavy load on attention is revealed by systematic, slower searches where looking behavior is sequential & can be quite complex such as when a display is cluttered. By contrast, quick search with minimal eye-movements reflects a distributed form of attention that can be spread across a display of items where the target is easily distinguishable from the non-target items.
Similarly, patterns of tracking reveal information about attention used. The more items users track the greater the demand on attention & the more users produce complex eye-movements that switch frequently across tracked items. When tracking just a single item, the load on attention is minimal & our eyes move smoothly during the tracking session.
To learn more about how patterns of behavior reflect attentional processing, please see my work on UX , search & tracking.
Do self-reported & actual distractibility align?
Many people have the impression that they are distractible, but my research shows that this is often not the case. Instead, distracting information can impact even those of us who claim to be highly focused. This is a good example of how a perceived ability may not align with an actual ability. An important lesson here for UI designers or UX researchers: rather than segmenting users into distractible vs. focused users based on self-reports, more objective behavioral measures are essential to knowing about the impact of design features on actual task performance.
Paulus, D.L., Aks, D.J. & Coren, S. (1990). Independence of performance and self-report measures of distractibility. Journal of Social Psychology, 130(6), 781-788. [Abstr] [pdf]
Aks, D.J. (1988). Predicting individual differences in distractibility. University of British Columbia. Retrieved March 4, 2020 from https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/ubctheses/831/items/1.0097729 [pdf]