The Engagement of Website Initial Aesthetic Impressions: An Experimental Investigation. Issue 16 (2nd October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pengnate, Supavich (Fone); Sarathy, Rathindra; Lee, JinKyu
• Is Part Of: International journal of human-computer interaction. Volume 35:Issue 16(2019)
• Page Start: 1517
• Page End: 1531
• Publication Date: 2019-10-02
• Subjects: Human-computer interaction -- Periodicals; 004.01905
• DOI: 10.1080/10447318.2018.1554319
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1044-7318

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study investigates how website design features, web page order and visual complexity, influence users' initial website aesthetic impressions and how such impressions subsequently enhance engagement and intention to use the website. A laboratory experiment was conducted to test the hypotheses using different levels of web page order (high vs. low), visual complexity (high vs. low), and exposure time (one-second vs. no-time-constraint). Overall, the results from structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis suggest that web page order significantly influences visual appeal, engagement, and intention. In addition, the results of multigroup SEM analysis reveal that users evaluate website design very quickly (within 1 s), and that these evaluations remain remarkably consistent over time.