Evaluate directness

Directness is a crucial metric in tree testing that measures how many users navigate straight to the correct category without backtracking or changing categories. This metric, often referred to as the "happy path," indicates a smooth, intuitive interaction with minimal confusion or detours.

Direct navigation is an important indicator of how well your information architecture supports users in finding what they need effortlessly. If a high percentage of users find the correct category directly, it suggests that your navigation structure is clear and logical.

However, it's important to note that users can also directly fail a tree-testing task. This means they confidently navigate to the wrong category without backtracking, believing they have found the correct answer. This type of failure is particularly concerning because it suggests a fundamental misunderstanding of your navigation structure. For instance, if users consistently go directly to "Privacy & Settings" instead of "Account Privacy" for managing account privacy, it indicates that the category labels or organization are misleading.