User Experience of ADHD People: an EEG-Based Exploratory Study

When a product/system emerges after a process of user research, it ensures a better user experience (UX) for its users. However, for products destined for people with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), this user research may not be precisely done after such a process. This is because the process of development of software tools and technologies is permeated by a normative perspective derived from the stigmatization by society, and the lack of research related to the UX of this population. The present paper addresses an exploratory study about the UX evaluation of ADHD people during the interaction with the desktop version of Microsoft Word, using electroencephalographic (EEG) signals as a more objective evaluation method due to its nature as a physiological signal. A total of 22 participants (11 with ADHD and 11 without ADHD) were involved in a two-phase experiment: a free exploration task phase and structured sequential tasks phase. EEG data were collected using the NeuroSky MindWave Mobile 2 device. Participants completed usability questionnaires (CSUQ and DEEP) and the NASA-TLX questionnaire to measure cognitive workload. EEG frequency band powers, particularly the ratios of alpha/theta and theta/beta as proposed in the literature, were analyzed to identify differences between groups. Findings suggest that users with ADHD exhibit a distinct theta/beta ratio during software interaction in the sequential tasks phase, as well as in the perceived usability and the perceived cognitive workload, highlighting the importance of inclusive design and adaptive interfaces for neurodivergent populations.