Which law indicates that the time taken to make a decision increases as the number of choices expands?

Hick's Law asserts that the time required to make a decision increases as the number of available choices expands. This principle is particularly significant in user experience design because it highlights the importance of simplifying decision-making processes for users. When individuals are faced with multiple options, they tend to take longer to evaluate each one, potentially leading to decision fatigue.

Hick's Law informs designers that providing too many choices can overwhelm users, thereby creating a less effective and frustrating experience. By understanding this law, practitioners can better structure layout and options in a way that minimizes cognitive load and enhances usability. This highlights the value of thoughtfully curated options to streamline decisions and improve user satisfaction.

In contrast, other laws like Fitts' Law pertain to the speed and accuracy of movement in relation to the size and distance of targets. Parkinson's Law focuses on how work expands to fill the time available, and the Law of Least Effort discusses users’ tendency to choose the path of least resistance in a task. These theories, while relevant in broader usability discussions, do not specifically address the relationship between the number of choices and decision-making time like Hick's Law does.