Mind the Lag: Replicating Behavioral Slowdown Caused by System Delay

Interactive systems often involve delays between user input and system output. Prior research has demonstrated that latency can shape user behavior over time, leading to slower actions with repeated exposure. However, most of this research has been conducted in a controlled laboratory environment, raising questions about the ecological validity and generalizability of these findings. In this paper, we aim to replicate the findings of a previous study, where users slowed down their actions in a point-and-click task when interacting with input elements that had a delayed system response. We implemented a similar point-and-click game in an online environment and recruited 45 participants.Our results confirm earlier findings in a less controlled, online environment, underscoring the robustness and generalizability of the user slowdown effect.