Age related differences and the depth vs. breadth tradeoff in hierarchical online information systems

Abstract

We report the results of a study investigating the age related differences as they relate to the depth versus breadth tradeoff in hierarchical online information systems. Different stimulus of various depth and breadth combinations and expandable or non-expandable structure were used. Participants from two age groups (aged 36 years old and younger or 57 years old and older) took part in this study. Overall, shallow hierarchies were preferred to deep hierarchies. Seniors were slower but did not make more errors than their younger counterparts when browsing the different treatments.