Usability Blog – Consequencing

There are a number of approaches that users can make to browsing through a site. There is a metaphor for real life.

Let’s say I want to buy a lawn mower. There are four approaches to this:

1. I’ve really got better things to do with my life than waste time choosing lawn mowers. I trust the person in the shop, so I’ll just take their advice.
2. I like to feel I make the decisions, so if the person in the shop tells me about just three of the lawn mowers, I’ll choose the best one for me.
3. I like to make sure that I get exactly the right lawn mower, so I’ll listen to the advice of the person in the shop, and I’ll look in the brochures as well. If the one I find in the brochure matches the one I’m recommended in the shop, then I’m happy to go ahead.
4. I really don’t need the advice of the person in the shop. Just give me the brochures and I’ll work out for myself which is the best one.

There is a correlation between these types and the Kiersey Temperament Sorter.

What are the user journey strategies that your users take?