Students’ Actual and Perceived Use of Navigational and Guidance Tools in a Hypermedia Program

Findings suggest that hypermedia system designers must develop a variety of interfaces to facilitate user searches, while attending to user needs, the task, and the environment.

Abstract

This paper reports on exploratory research that examines the ways students used a hypermedia system. Outcome measures include the ways students learned to use the system, the strategies they used to search for information, the amount of relevant information located by their searches, and user perceptions about the system and their use of it. Forty-one students used four search modes (Browse, Index, Guide, or a Mixture) for searches of a highly visual, interactive program. Findings suggest that hypermedia system designers must develop a variety of interfaces to facilitate user searches, while attending to user needs, the task, and the environment. A visual metaphor proved to be an effective basis for the design of one search mode. Crucial questions are raised regarding user disposition and characteristics affecting search mode choice.