Modelling users’ judgement of aesthetics and user interface quality

The paper introduces a framework for users’ design quality judgements based on Adaptive Decision Making theory. The framework describes judgement on quality attributes (usability, content/functionality, aesthetics, customisation and engagement) with dependencies on decision making arising from the user’s background, task and context. Incorporating the results from previous evaluations of websites (Ivory & Hearst, 2001; Sutcliffe, 2002; De Angeli et al 2006), we propose a theoretical framework for judgement of “attractiveness” based on Adaptive Decision Making theory (Payne, Bettman & Johnson, 1993), illustrated in figure 1. ADM theory asserts that people’s decision making is adaptive and contingent upon the task, context, and their background-experience.