Is No Address Better Than the Homepage Address? Possible Initial Search Point Tunneling as a Vivid Human-Computer Interaction Factor in the Shaping of Information Retrieval Efficiency

Abstract

This paper presents an extended qualitative outcome analysis of the observed possible phenomenon of "Initial Search Point Tunneling". In-depth video and eye-tracking analysis took place as a part of a routine usability check of the University website. The resulting recommendations may allow faster, more effective information retrieval and thus attract higher website traffic. Among other findings, this paper shows that the webpage address should not be limited to the homepage address, but be complete, yet simple; the content should have a clear and easily identifiable description; the structure and names of menu options should be short yet descriptive and clear; simple, built-in search engines, instead of improving search outcome quality, may actually worsen it. The findings’ implications may stretch beyond the academic context into the areas of UX, CX, consumer studies, and practices associated with digital and media use.