View in EDS

From Information Searching to Learning: A Comparison of Contrasting Hypertextual Menu Designs for Computer-Based Instructional Documents.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: From Information Searching to Learning: A Comparison of Contrasting Hypertextual Menu Designs for Computer-Based Instructional Documents.
Language: English
Authors: Lai, Yee-Rong, Waugh, Michael L.
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 25
Publication Date: 1994
Document Type: Reports - Research
Speeches/Meeting Papers
Tests/Questionnaires
Descriptors: Computer Assisted Instruction, Higher Education, Hypermedia, Information Seeking, Instructional Design, Menu Driven Software, Problem Solving, Questionnaires, Search Strategies
Abstract: This study examined the influence of three different combinations of document structures and menu designs on users' attitude, performance, and learning in five different search tasks. The three types of combinations studied were: (1) an explicit menu signaling hierarchical structure where cross-referencing was not supported (EXH--explicit and hierarchical); (2) an explicit menu signaling hierarchical structure in which cross-referencing capability was embedded (EXN--explicit and network); and (3) an embedded menu signaling both hierarchical structure and cross-referencing capability (EMN--embedded and network). Based upon the specificity, complexity, and boundary of the search targets, five types of searches were studied--when the target was: simple and fully known; simple but not partially known; complex and fully known; complex but only partially known; and complex and the condition for terminating the search was unclear. Results showed that providing cross-reference links in small- or medium-sized online documents can improve search accuracy but not efficiency. EXN produces the best search accuracy, and EMN encourages in-depth search for tasks that are complex and not fully known. Although EXN was best received by the subjects, it resulted in a greater sense of getting lost for those who used the referential links and backtracking links more often. Causes of this disorientation, reasons why EXN and EMN produced better performance were discussed and search strategies employed by the subjects were investigated. The questionnaire used in the study is appended. (Contains 54 references.) (JLB)
Entry Date: 1995
Accession Number: ED374770
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED374770
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: ED374770
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Report
PubTypeId: report
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: From Information Searching to Learning: A Comparison of Contrasting Hypertextual Menu Designs for Computer-Based Instructional Documents.
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lai%2C+Yee-Rong%22">Lai, Yee-Rong</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Waugh%2C+Michael+L%2E%22">Waugh, Michael L.</searchLink>
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: N
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 25
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 1994
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Reports - Research<br />Speeches/Meeting Papers<br />Tests/Questionnaires
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Assisted+Instruction%22">Computer Assisted Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hypermedia%22">Hypermedia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+Seeking%22">Information Seeking</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Instructional+Design%22">Instructional Design</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Menu+Driven+Software%22">Menu Driven Software</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Problem+Solving%22">Problem Solving</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Questionnaires%22">Questionnaires</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Search+Strategies%22">Search Strategies</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study examined the influence of three different combinations of document structures and menu designs on users' attitude, performance, and learning in five different search tasks. The three types of combinations studied were: (1) an explicit menu signaling hierarchical structure where cross-referencing was not supported (EXH--explicit and hierarchical); (2) an explicit menu signaling hierarchical structure in which cross-referencing capability was embedded (EXN--explicit and network); and (3) an embedded menu signaling both hierarchical structure and cross-referencing capability (EMN--embedded and network). Based upon the specificity, complexity, and boundary of the search targets, five types of searches were studied--when the target was: simple and fully known; simple but not partially known; complex and fully known; complex but only partially known; and complex and the condition for terminating the search was unclear. Results showed that providing cross-reference links in small- or medium-sized online documents can improve search accuracy but not efficiency. EXN produces the best search accuracy, and EMN encourages in-depth search for tasks that are complex and not fully known. Although EXN was best received by the subjects, it resulted in a greater sense of getting lost for those who used the referential links and backtracking links more often. Causes of this disorientation, reasons why EXN and EMN produced better performance were discussed and search strategies employed by the subjects were investigated. The questionnaire used in the study is appended. (Contains 54 references.) (JLB)
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 1995
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: ED374770
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED374770
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 25
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Computer Assisted Instruction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Higher Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hypermedia
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Information Seeking
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Instructional Design
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Menu Driven Software
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Problem Solving
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Questionnaires
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Search Strategies
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: From Information Searching to Learning: A Comparison of Contrasting Hypertextual Menu Designs for Computer-Based Instructional Documents.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Lai, Yee-Rong
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Waugh, Michael L.
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 04
              Type: published
              Y: 1994
ResultId 1