According to the design methodology, what happens to reaction time when the response options increase from one to two?

When the number of response options increases from one to two, the reaction time typically increases due to several cognitive factors involved in decision-making processes. With only one option available, a person can react almost instantaneously as there is no choice to make. However, introducing a second option necessitates additional cognitive processing to evaluate which option is appropriate. This evaluation takes time, leading to a measurable increase in reaction time, often cited around 150 milliseconds for such a change.

The increase in reaction time can be attributed to the need to assess both options, compare their relevance or suitability, and then select a response, adding cognitive load that does not exist when there is only a single option to respond to. This phenomenon aligns with the principles of Hick's Law, which states that the time it takes to make a decision increases with the number of choices available.