Who Is This Research For? Industry professionals and digital system designers seeking to improve decision quality, user performance, and cybersecurity behavior through intentional IT design.
Executive Summary
This research from Kevin Harmon at the Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas (Department of Information
Systems), explores how system latency—often viewed as a flaw—can actually improve
human decision making under certain conditions.
Through a series of experiments, Harmon and co-author Eric A. Walden show that when
brief digital delays occur after task-relevant information is presented, users make
stronger decisions, create more secure passwords, and are less likely to accept misinformation.
The findings suggest that system designers can rethink latency not as a problem to
eliminate but as a design feature—one that encourages reflection, improves cognitive
processing, and enhances outcomes in security, learning, and decision-making environments.
Action Items for Industry
- Use latency strategically: Introduce brief, purposeful pauses in interfaces where thoughtful reflection improves accuracy or security.
- Design for cognitive engagement: Ensure latency follows relevant content, so users have meaningful information to reflect on.
- Rethink the “speed-at-all-costs” mindset: Recognize that faster systems can sometimes encourage impulsive or less accurate responses.
- Incorporate adaptive timing: Explore systems that adjust latency dynamically based on task complexity or user context.
- Treat latency as a behavioral nudge: Use intentional pauses to help users slow down and make more deliberate, informed decisions.
Quote from the Researcher
“When targeted appropriately, delays can improve user decision making. This work helps resolve mixed research findings on the impact of delays on users.”
-Kevin Harmon
Co-Authors & Affiliations
- Eric A. Walden — Texas Tech University, Rawls College of Business.
Link to the Original Research
Published in Information Systems Research, available here.
📩 Interested in learning more?
If you’d like additional information about this research or to connect directly with
the researchers, please email us at research@walton.uark.edu.
Dr. Kevin A. Harmon is an Assistant Professor in the Information Systems Department,
specializing in the impact of system delays on user performance and user experience
(UX) across diverse contexts. His current research focuses on elucidating how latency
influences user interactions with technology, shedding light on critical aspects of
system design and its implications for efficiency and satisfaction. Dr. Harmon adeptly
applies his extensive background in psychology to enrich his analysis, offering a
broader understanding of the human-technology interface.
