Optimize decision-making speed by managing choice quantity. Use when designing navigation, menus, feature sets, onboarding flows, or any interface where users must choose between options.
Optimize decision speed by reducing choice overload in navigation, menus, and onboarding flows. Use when designing interfaces where users must select from multiple options to prevent paralysis and improve conversion rates.
/plugin marketplace add flpbalada/thinking-toolkit/plugin install hicks-law@thinking-toolkitThis skill inherits all available tools. When active, it can use any tool Claude has access to.
Hick's Law (also Hick-Hyman Law) states that the time it takes to make a decision increases logarithmically with the number and complexity of choices. Named after British psychologist William Edmund Hick and American psychologist Ray Hyman (1952).
RT = a + b * log2(n+1)
Where:
RT = Reaction time
a = Time not involved in decision (physical movement, etc.)
b = Empirical constant (~0.155s for choice tasks)
n = Number of equally probable choices
| Choices | Relative Decision Time | User Experience |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Baseline | Quick, confident |
| 4 | +1 unit | Still manageable |
| 8 | +2 units | Starting to slow |
| 16 | +3 units | Noticeable hesitation |
| 32 | +4 units | Overwhelm begins |
| 64+ | +5+ units | Paralysis likely |
User Satisfaction
^
| *
| * *
| * *
| * *
|* *____
+-----------------------> Number of Choices
Sweet spot
(4-7 items)
Map all places users must choose:
| Screen/Flow | Decision Type | Options Count | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Screen 1] | Navigation | [n] | [H/M/L] |
| [Screen 2] | Selection | [n] | [H/M/L] |
| [Screen 3] | Configuration | [n] | [H/M/L] |
Essential (keep) Nice-to-have (maybe) Remove
| | |
v v v
[_______] [_______] [_______]
[_______] [_______] [_______]
[_______] [_______] [_______]
## Hick's Law Analysis
**Interface/Flow:** [Name] **Analysis Date:** [Date]
### Decision Point Inventory
| Location | Current Options | Target | Strategy |
| --------- | --------------- | ------ | -------------------- |
| [Point 1] | [n] | [n] | [Chunk/Hide/Default] |
| [Point 2] | [n] | [n] | [Chunk/Hide/Default] |
### Reduction Plan
**Quick wins (no functionality loss):**
1. [Change 1]
2. [Change 2]
**Strategic reductions (requires tradeoffs):**
1. [Change with impact analysis]
### Expected Impact
- Decision time reduction: ~[X]%
- Conversion improvement: ~[X]% (estimated)
- Support ticket reduction: ~[X]% (estimated)
Cable TV: 500+ channels = Decision paralysis
Netflix approach:
Menu has only 4 items vs. competitors' 50+:
The constraint creates confidence in choice quality.
Original: 15 configuration options upfront
Redesigned: 3 essential questions, rest defaulted
Instead of:
[ ] Option A
[ ] Option B
[ ] Option C
Do:
[x] Option B (Recommended)
[ ] Option A
[ ] Option C
Basic Options
[Configure]
v Advanced (click to expand)
[_] Setting 1
[_] Setting 2
Instead of 12 flat options:
Category A Category B Category C
- Item 1 - Item 5 - Item 9
- Item 2 - Item 6 - Item 10
- Item 3 - Item 7 - Item 11
- Item 4 - Item 8 - Item 12
| Method | Combined Use |
|---|---|
| Progressive Disclosure | Hide complexity, reveal on demand |
| Cognitive Load | Fewer choices = lower cognitive burden |
| Fogg Behavior Model | Simpler choices increase ability |
| Jobs-to-be-Done | Focus options on user's actual job |
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