Previous research conducted by Bergus et al. (2002) identified
that treatment evaluations are more negative when risks are
presented last. Extending discussion of this order effect, the
current studies investigate this effect in tabular style displays,
manipulating both order and orientation; and using eye-tracking
methodology, explores the effect of these variables on the
information search process. Analysis from eye-tracking data
revealed a tendency to read information sets sequentially (i.e.
read all risk information before transitions to the other set),
which is stronger for the vertical orientation where switching
between information sets is less common. Further, while
balanced search was observed when benefits presented first,
when presented with the risks first, search becomes more risk-
heavy. Eye-tracking measures did not strongly predict treatment
evaluations, although, when holding other variables constant,
time proportion spent on benefits positively predicted treatment
evaluations.