[IxDA Discuss] Are required field notations really necessarywith radio button selections?

[Peter Boersma]

Well, since we're reviving this discussion... ;-)

Alan wrote:
> With respect to radio buttons, there should always be a selected item.
[..]
> The reason for this is that if a person makes a selection, then
> changes her mind, there is no other way to un-set it.

For situations we're talking about here (required field) that may be the desired situation.

I remember when we designed forms for the UK Inland Revenue (tax) we choose to have all radio buttons in an initial blank state and make them required. Reason for this was that supplying a (reasonable) default would be seen as "filling out the form for the user" which was very much not done: tax papers were to be filled out by the user alone.

Peter
-- 
Peter Boersma | Senior Interaction Designer | Info.nl
http://www.peterboersma.com/blog | http://www.info.nl