UX Trivia 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'progressive disclosure' in UX design?
- Revealing all features upfront to avoid confusion
- Gradually revealing features and information as users need them (Correct answer)
- Disclosing privacy policies step by step
- Showing loading progress to users
Correct answer: Gradually revealing features and information as users need them
Progressive disclosure reduces cognitive overload by presenting only essential information first and revealing additional details as users engage further.
Question 2: In usability testing, what does a 'think-aloud protocol' require participants to do?
- Rate each task difficulty on a scale
- Verbalize their thoughts and reasoning while completing tasks (Correct answer)
- Record their session and review it afterward
- Work silently and answer questions only at the end
Correct answer: Verbalize their thoughts and reasoning while completing tasks
The think-aloud protocol asks participants to narrate their thought process in real time, giving researchers direct insight into decision-making and confusion.
Question 3: Which principle describes the tendency of users to perceive elements that are close together as belonging to the same group?
- Similarity
- Continuity
- Proximity (Correct answer)
- Closure
Correct answer: Proximity
The Gestalt principle of Proximity states that objects near each other are perceived as related, making spacing a powerful grouping tool in design.
Question 4: What is the primary goal of an 'affinity diagram' created during UX synthesis?
- Map user flows through the product
- Organize large amounts of qualitative data into themes (Correct answer)
- Document usability heuristics
- Prioritize features by business value
Correct answer: Organize large amounts of qualitative data into themes
An affinity diagram clusters raw research findings—observations, quotes, insights—into meaningful themes to surface patterns and inform design decisions.
Question 5: What is meant by 'cognitive load' in the context of UX design?
- The loading time of a web page
- The mental effort required to use an interface (Correct answer)
- The number of features in an application
- The visual weight of UI elements
Correct answer: The mental effort required to use an interface
Cognitive load refers to the total amount of mental effort users must exert to process information and complete tasks within an interface.
Question 6: Who developed the concept of 'dark patterns' in UX design?
- Don Norman
- Harry Brignull (Correct answer)
- Jared Spool
- Luke Wroblewski
Correct answer: Harry Brignull
Harry Brignull coined the term 'dark patterns' in 2010 to describe deceptive UI techniques designed to trick users into unintended actions.
Question 7: In eye-tracking research, what is a 'fixation'?
- A point where the eye stops and focuses for a brief period (Correct answer)
- The overall path the eye travels across a page
- A heatmap overlay on a webpage
- The speed at which the eye moves between points
Correct answer: A point where the eye stops and focuses for a brief period
A fixation is when the eye pauses and focuses on a specific point, typically for 100–500 milliseconds, indicating where a user is actively processing information.
UX Trivia 3
What is 'progressive disclosure' in UX design?