User Burden of Microinteractions: An In-lab Experiment Examining User Performance and Perceived Burden Related to In-situ Self-reporting

Abstract

In-situ self-reporting on smartwatches has been widely-used to collect data about participants' experience. Yet it places a burden on participants by requiring immediate response in context. Such user burden can be studied through users' performance and perceptions. This paper evaluates six interaction techniques to study user burden of in-situ self-reporting from both performance and perception aspects under three simulated scenarios (i.e., gaming, social chatting, and walking) through an in-lab experiment with twenty-four participants. Findings show that user performance was not always aligned with their perceived burden owing to factors such as users' acceptable interaction technique features for self-reporting, the context of use, and users' acquired skills over time. This study also sheds lights onto how user burden is experienced across different stages of a self-reporting microinteraction. Reflecting on findings, we discuss the implications for understanding and minimizing user burden related to in-situ self-reporting and as well as other types of microinteractions.