article

Error prevention in online forms: Use color instead of asterisks to mark required-fields

Authors:

Stefan L. Pauwels,

Christian Hübscher,

Stefan Leuthold,

Javier A. Bargas-Avila,

Klaus OpwisAuthors Info & Claims

Interacting with Computers, Volume 21, Issue 4

Pages 257 - 262

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intcom.2009.05.007

Published: 01 August 2009 Publication History

Abstract

In this study, a simple but important user interface design choice is examined: when marking required-fields in online forms, should GUI designers stick with the often used asterisk that many form design guidelines cite as the de-facto web standard, or should they choose a colored background as a new design solution to visually signal which input fields are required? An experiment with 24 participants was conducted to test the hypotheses that efficiency, effectiveness and satisfaction ratings of colored required-fields exceed those of asterisk-marked required-fields. Results indicate that colored required field marking leads to fewer errors, faster form fill-in in and higher user satisfaction.

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Cited By

Breitmayer MArnold LWinter MReichert M(2024)Exploring user editing preferences in electronic forms: an empirical studyInformation Systems and e-Business Management10.1007/s10257-023-00662-y22:1(171-207)Online publication date: 1-Mar-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/s10257-023-00662-y
Ferner BGåsøy ANicolaysen MSandnes F(2023)A Comparison of Form Navigation with Tabbing and PointingUniversal Access in Human-Computer Interaction10.1007/978-3-031-35681-0_20(311-318)Online publication date: 23-Jul-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/978-3-031-35681-0_20
Seckler MHeinz SBargas-Avila JOpwis KTuch AJones MPalanque PSchmidt AGrossman T(2014)Designing usable web formsProceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/2556288.2557265(1275-1284)Online publication date: 26-Apr-2014
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2556288.2557265
Show More Cited By

Error prevention in online forms: Use color instead of asterisks to mark required-fields
1. Human-centered computing
  1. Human computer interaction (HCI)

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Published In

cover image Interacting with Computers

Interacting with Computers Volume 21, Issue 4

August, 2009

89 pages

ISSN:0953-5438

EISSN:1873-7951

Issue’s Table of Contents

Copyright © Elsevier B.V. © 2009.

Publisher

Elsevier Science Inc.

United States

Publication History

Published: 01 August 2009

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Cited By

Breitmayer MArnold LWinter MReichert M(2024)Exploring user editing preferences in electronic forms: an empirical studyInformation Systems and e-Business Management10.1007/s10257-023-00662-y22:1(171-207)Online publication date: 1-Mar-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/s10257-023-00662-y
Ferner BGåsøy ANicolaysen MSandnes F(2023)A Comparison of Form Navigation with Tabbing and PointingUniversal Access in Human-Computer Interaction10.1007/978-3-031-35681-0_20(311-318)Online publication date: 23-Jul-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/978-3-031-35681-0_20
Seckler MHeinz SBargas-Avila JOpwis KTuch AJones MPalanque PSchmidt AGrossman T(2014)Designing usable web formsProceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/2556288.2557265(1275-1284)Online publication date: 26-Apr-2014
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2556288.2557265
Seckler MHeinz SBargas-Avila JOpwis KTuch AMackay WBrewster SBødker S(2013)Empirical evaluation of 20 web form optimization guidelinesCHI '13 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/2468356.2468695(1893-1898)Online publication date: 27-Apr-2013
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2468356.2468695
Seckler MTuch AOpwis KBargas-Avila J(2012)User-friendly locations of error messages in web formsInteracting with Computers10.1016/j.intcom.2012.03.00224:3(107-118)Online publication date: 1-May-2012
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.intcom.2012.03.002
Bargas-Avila JBrenzikofer OTuch ARoth SOpwis K(2011)Working towards usable forms on the worldwide webAdvances in Human-Computer Interaction10.1155/2011/3471712011(1-6)Online publication date: 1-Jan-2011
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1155/2011/347171
Bargas-Avila JBrenzikofer OTuch ARoth SOpwis K(2011)Working towards usable forms on the world wide webAdvances in Human-Computer Interaction10.1155/2011/2027012011(1-8)Online publication date: 1-Jan-2011
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1155/2011/202701
Hübscher CPauwels SRoth SBargas-Avila JOpwis K(2011)The organization of interaction design pattern languages alongside the design processInteracting with Computers10.1016/j.intcom.2011.02.00923:3(189-201)Online publication date: 1-May-2011
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.intcom.2011.02.009
Bargas-Avila JOrsini SPiosczyk HUrwyler DOpwis K(2011)Enhancing online formsInteracting with Computers10.1016/j.intcom.2010.08.00123:1(33-39)Online publication date: 1-Jan-2011
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.intcom.2010.08.001

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