A Study on the Effects of Visual Aesthetics and Usability of Web Site Design on their Performance

웹사이트 디자인의 시각적 요소와 유용성이 성과에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구

  • 김승경 (건국대학교 벤처전문기술학과) ;
  • 이재관 (숭실대학교 경영학과)
  • Published : 2007.06.30

Abstract

Most research on web site design has focused on technological factors, while visual aesthetic factors have been considered less important. In contrast, this study focuses on visual aesthetic factors in web site design. Findings of this study can be summarized as follows : (1) The result of SPSS-factor analysis shows that there are 3 distinct factors, 'classical aesthetics', 'expressive aesthetics', and 'usability' 'Classical aesthetics' and 'expressive aesthetics' can be described by visual aesthetic design, 'Visual aesthetic design' can be distinguished from 'usability'. This conceptual confusion relating to 'usability' and 'visual aesthetic design' can be clarified by these findings. (2) As a result of multiple regression analyses, 'classical aesthetics', 'expressive aesthetics', and 'usability' have a positive influence on 'interactivity' and 'web site evaluation'. This research clarifies the concepts of 'expectations' of Grier [18] and 'engagement' of Rosen and Purinton [33] as the 'interactivity' between users and web sites. Furthermore, this research suggests a valid model with high $R^2$(interactivity, 48% : web site evaluation, 68%). (3) Empirical tests show that the differences among users in 'entry point' are related to the characteristics of web sites and the personal characteristics of users. The differences among users in terms of 'scanning time' are closely related to the attitudes and evaluation tendencies of users with respect to web sites. These findings could contribute to the 'search phase' of the Faraday model [16], enabling it to be more precise and extensible. The managerial implication of this study is that customers' preferences regarding web site designs are differences, as their preferences are based on their individual characteristics. Therefore, marketing managers should consider promotional tools on web sites that are relevant to the target market. An optimal strategy for web design could be a carefully-selected combination of factors that are relevant to the 'interactivity' and 'evaluation' of web sites. Additionally, if marketing managers want to attract more favorable attitudes and more affirmative evaluations from users, web sites should be designed so that they are understood more quickly by users. finally, this study suggests that 'good design' for web sites depends on understanding how to attain the appropriate balance between 'classical aesthetics' and 'expressive aesthetics', based on the target customer.

Keywords

References

  1. 박찬원, '인터넷 사용행동에 관한 이중경로 모형', 고려대학교 대학원 박사학위논문, 1999
  2. 송창석, 신종칠, '인터넷상의 상호작용성 제고방안에 관한 연구', 마케팅연구, 제14권, 제3호 (1999), pp.69-95
  3. 윤철호, 김상훈, '전자상점의 성과 측정지표 개발에 관한 실증적 연구', 한국경영학회, 경영학연구, 제33권, 제4호(2004), pp.1201-1235
  4. 이호배, 정주훈, 박기백, '인터넷 사이트에 대한 속성신념과 태도가 홈페이지 광고 효과에 미치는 영향', 한국경영학회, 경영학연구, 제29권, 제2호(2000), pp.263-290
  5. 이호선, '웹 커뮤니케이션 HCI(Human-Computer Interaction)에서의 효과적인 GUI(Graphic User Interface)의 시각요소에 관한 연구', 한국디지털디자인학회, 추계학술대회, 2003
  6. 한석우, '디자이너를 위한 인간공학', 조형사, 1991
  7. Bardre, A.N., Shaping Web Usability: Interaction Design in Context, Addison-Wesley, 2002
  8. Barnes, S.J. and R. Vidgen, 'Measuring Web site Quality Improvements : a Case Study of the Forum on Strategic Management Knowledge Exchange,' Industrial Management and Data Systems, Vol.5-6, No.8(2003), pp.297-309
  9. Benbasat, I. and G. DeSanctis, Communication Challenges: A Value Network Perspective, in: G. DeSanctis, G.W. Dickson (Eds.), Information Technology and the Future Enterprise: New Models for Managers, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 2000
  10. Brick, T., D. Gergle, and S. Wood, 'Usability for the Web, Designing Web Sites That Work,' Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2002
  11. Cho, C.H. and J.D. Leckenby, 'Interactivity as a Measure of Advertising Effectiveness,' Presented at the 1999 Annual Conference of the American Academy of Advertising in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in March, 1999
  12. Cook, W.A., 'Is it Interactive Media, or Hyperactive Media?' Journal of Advertising Research, Vol.16, No.1(1994)
  13. Cutshall, R.C., 'An Investigation of Success Metrics for the Design of e-Commerce Web Sites,' PhD, University of North Texas, 2004
  14. Davis, F.D., 'Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use and End User Acceptance of Information Technology,' MIS Quartely, Vol.13, No.3(1989), pp.319-340 https://doi.org/10.2307/249008
  15. Dutta, S. and A. Segev, 'Business Transformation on the Internet,' European Management Journal, Vol.17, No.5(1999), pp. 466-476 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0263-2373(99)00032-8
  16. Faraday, P., 'Visually Critiquing Web Pages,' 6th Conference on Human Factors & the Web, Austin, Texas, June 19, 2000, http:// www.tri.sbc.com/hfweb/faraday/FARADAY. HTM
  17. Fogarty, G., J. Forlizzi, S.E. Hudson, 'Aesthetic Information Collages: Generating Decorative Displays that Contain Information,' Proceedings of the 14th Annual ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology, November (2001)
  18. Grier, R.A., 'Visual Attention and Web Design,' PhD Dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2004
  19. Hagel, J. and A. Armstrong, Net Gain: Expanding Markets through Virtual Communities, Harvard Business School Press, 1997
  20. Hoffman, D.L. and T.P. Novak, 'Marketing in Hypermedia Computer-Mediated Environment : Conceptual Foundations,' Journal of Marketing, Vol.60(1996), pp.50-138 https://doi.org/10.2307/1251841
  21. Kaplan, R, S. Kaplan, and R.L. Ryan, With People in Mind, Island Press, Washington, DC, 1998
  22. Kaplan, S. and R Kaplan, Cognition and Environment, Praeger Publishers, New York, NY, 1982
  23. Karvonen, K., 'The Beauty of Simplicity,' Proceedings of the ACM Conference on Uniersal Usability (CUU 2000), Washington DC, USA, November 16-17, 2000
  24. Kurosu, M. and K. Kashimura, 'Apparent Uability vs. Inherent Usability,' CHI, (1995), pp.292-293
  25. Lavie, T. and N. Tractinsky, 'Assessing Dimensions of Perceived Visual Aesthetics of Web Sites,' International Journal of Human- Computer Studies, Vol.60, Issue 3(2004), pp.269-298 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2003.09.002
  26. Lee, J.K., 'A Model for Monitoring Public Sector Web Site Strategy,' Internet Research : Electronic Networking Applications and Policy, Vol.13, No.4(2003), pp. 259-266 https://doi.org/10.1108/10662240310488942
  27. Mohammed, R.A., R.J. Fisher, B.J, Jaworski, and G.J. Paddison, Internet Marketing: Building Advantage in a Networked Economy, 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill Companies, 2004
  28. Nielsen, J., Web Usability: Past, Present, and Future, Web World.com, 1999
  29. Nielsen, J., Designing Web Usability: The Practice of Simplicity, New Riders Publishing, 2000
  30. Nielson, J., User Empowerment and the Fun Factor, useit.com, 2002
  31. Pieters, R.G.M. and W.F. van Raaij, Ch.4, The Role of Affect in Economic Behavior. In Edited by F. van Raaij, M. Grey, van Veldhoven, and K.E. Warneryd, Handbook of Econoic Psychology. Dordrecht ' Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1988
  32. Rafaeli, S. and F. Sudweeks, 'Networked Interactivity,' Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Vol.2, No.4(1999)
  33. Rosen, D.E. and E. Purinton, 'Website Design: Viewing the Web as a Cognitive Landscape,' Journal of Business Research, Vol.57(2004), pp.787-794 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0148-2963(02)00353-3
  34. Spool J.M., T. Scanlon, W. Schroeder, C. Snyder, and T. DeAngelo, Web Site Usability : A Designer's Guide, Morgan Kaufman, Los Altos, CA, 1999
  35. Tractinsky, N., 'Aesthetics and Apparent Usability: Empirically Assessing Cultural and Methodological Issues,' ACM CHI Conference Proceedings on Human Factors in Computing Systems, (1997), pp.115-122
  36. Tractinsky, N., A. Shoval-Katz, and D. Ikar, 'What is Beautiful is Usable,' Interacting with Computers, Vol.13(2000), pp.127-145 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0953-5438(00)00031-X
  37. Xie, H., 'Patterns Between Interactive Intentions and Information-seeking Strategies,' IPM, (2002), pp.55-77