Online Forms: An Eye Tracking Exploration into Fixation across Three Label Alignments

An online form is one of the well-accepted human-computer interaction tools. Results from previous research addressing how the label should be aligned or which alignment will accommodate the process of filling in an input field are inconclusive. We therefore attempt to clarify the uncertainty. Using the Tobii eye tracker to record fixation activities of 312 participants while filling in online forms with three label alignment formats (i.e., left, top, and infield) confirmed that the participants noticed the left-aligned label fastest as compared to the other alignment formats. Nonetheless, based on the fixation analysis, the top or the infield alignments still outrank the left one. In addition to extending insight into the label alignments on online forms, practitioners may apply the findings so visitors to the forms could work efficiently.