The relationship between web enjoyment and student perceptions and learning using a web-based tutorial

Web enjoyment has been regarded as a component of system experience. However, there has been little targeted research considering the role of web enjoyment alone in student learning using web-based systems. To address this gap, this study aims to examine the influence of web enjoyment on learning performance and perceptions by controlling system experience as a variable in the study. 74 students participated in the study, using a web-based tutorial covering subject matter in the area of 'Computation and algorithms'. Their learning performance was assessed with a pre-test and a post-test and their learning perceptions were evaluated with a questionnaire. The results indicated that there are positive relationships between the levels of web enjoyment and perceived usefulness and non-linear navigation for users with similar, significant levels of system experience. The implications of these findings in relation to web-based learning are explored and ways in which the needs of students who report different levels of web enjoyment might be met are discussed

Hypermedia learning and prior knowledge: Domain expertise vs. system expertise

Prior knowledge is often argued to be an important determinant in hypermedia learning, and may be thought of as including two important elements: domain expertise and system expertise. However, there has been a lack of research considering these issues together. In an attempt to address this shortcoming, this paper presents a study that examines how domain expertise and system expertise influence students’ learning performance in, and perceptions of, a hypermedia system. The results indicate that participants with lower domain knowledge show a greater improvement in their learning performance than those with higher domain knowledge. Furthermore, those who enjoy using the Web more are likely to have positive perceptions of non-linear interaction. Discussions on how to accommodate the different needs of students with varying levels of prior knowledge are provided based on the results

Factores que influyen en la comprensión lectora de hipertexto

Este artículo revisa algunas de las investigaciones más destacadas el ámbito de la lectura de hipertexto. Al objeto de identificar los factores y variables que influyen en la comprensión lectora de este tipo de formato textual, se revisan y analizan diferentes definiciones de hipertexto, así como los aspectos que inciden en las características de cada documento hipertextual, entre los que se encuentran la granularidad de sus nodos, el número y el tipo de enlaces, su estructura global, y las ayudas a la navegación. Además, se abordan las tareas y procesos específicos asociados a la comprensión lectora de textos hipervinculados, haciendo especial hincapié en la selección del orden de lectura, que es el principal proceso que diferencia la lectura multilineal de hipertexto de la lectura lineal de texto impreso. A tenor del análisis realizado, se puede concluir que dichos factores tendrán efectos diferentes en términos de carga cognitiva de los lectores dependiendo del conocimiento de domino que estos posean. Sobre este particular, se observa que la cohesión textual es un elemento de gran importancia para la comprensión del hipertexto en lectores con bajo conocimiento de dominio

Factores que influyen en la comprensión lectora de hipertexto

This paper revises some of the most significant studies about hypertext reading. With the aim of determining the main factors and variables that influence reading comprehension of such textual format, some definitions of hypertext are provided, and the aspects that affect the characteristics of each hypertext document such as the node granularity, the number and type of links, its overall structure, and navigation aids, are analyzed in detail. In addition, specific tasks and processes associated with reading comprehension of hyperlink text are revised, with particular emphasis on the selection of reading order, which is the process that differentiates the multilinear reading of hypertext and the linear reading of printed text. According to the analysis, it can be concluded that these factors will have different effects in terms of the cognitive load of the readers according to their domain knowledge. In this regard, it is noted that the textual cohesion is an element of great importance to understand hypertext for those readers with low knowledge domain.Este artículo revisa algunas de las investigaciones más destacadas el ámbito de la lectura de hipertexto. Al objeto de identificar los factores y variables que influyen en la comprensión lectora de este tipo de formato textual, se revisan y analizan diferentes definiciones de hipertexto, así como los aspectos que inciden en las características de cada documento hipertextual, entre los que se encuentran la granularidad de sus nodos, el número y el tipo de enlaces, su estructura global, y las ayudas a la navegación. Además, se abordan las tareas y procesos específicos asociados a la comprensión lectora de textos hipervinculados, haciendo especial hincapié en la selección del orden de lectura, que es el principal proceso que diferencia la lectura multilineal de hipertexto de la lectura lineal de texto impreso. A tenor del análisis realizado, se puede concluir que dichos factores tendrán efectos diferentes en términos de carga cognitiva de los lectores dependiendo del conocimiento de domino que estos posean. Sobre este particular, se observa que la cohesión textual es un elemento de gran importancia para la comprensión del hipertexto en lectores con bajo conocimiento de dominio.  

Bibliographie

Précisions des auteurs : un nombre relativement important de nos références bibliographiques est désormais disponible dans les archives ouvertes, les pages de chercheurs dans les sites de leurs universités ou leurs sites personnels. Cependant, nous ne transcrivons pas l’adresse (URL) de ces publications en libre accès pour éviter d’allonger une bibliographie déjà bien fournie et nous invitons les lecteurs à les retrouver avec leur moteur de recherche favori, de préférence spécialisé dans les ..

Hypertekstirakenteessa navigoiminen visualisoinnin avulla.

Tässä tutkielmassa selvitetään hypertekstirakenteessa navigoimisen ongelmallisuutta ja sen syitä. Navigoinnin suurimpana ongelmana on koettu olevan käyttäjien eksyminen hypertekstisivujen muodostamaan verkkoon. Eksymisen johdosta käyttäjät turhautuvat ja kokevat tiedonhaun vaivalloiseksi. Tutkielmassa tarkastellaan mahdollisia ratkaisuja navigointiongelmaan, keskittyen erityisesti ongelman ratkaisemiseen visualisointien avulla. Tarkemmin tarkastellaan navigointihistorian visualisoimista ja tämän hyödyllisyyttä käyttäjän kannalta. Visualisointien toimivuuden arvioimiseksi käydään läpi eri mahdollisuudet liittää nykyiseen WWW-ympäristöön visualisoinnin luova sovellus ja toteutetaan käytännössä navigointihistoriaa visualisoiva sovellus. Sovelluksen toimivuutta testattiin laboratoriossa järjestetyillä testeillä. Testien tarkoituksena oli saada tietoa siitä, miten hyvin toteutettu visualisointi toimii käytännössä. Tutkimuksen tuloksena todetaan, että uusi sovellus ei poikkea merkittävästi nykyisistä vastaavista sovelluksista. Saatujen tulosten pohjalta hahmotellaan vaatimuksia navigointihistoriaa visualisoiville sovelluksille ja tältä pohjalta esitetään yksi mahdollinen käyttöliittymä

The impact of social networking mediums on the decision making process of tourists: A case study of Stray Ltd and Spaceships New Zealand Ltd

This thesis examines tourist decision making in relation to the use of blogs and social networking sites. Specifically, the research examines the tourist behaviour involving these mediums in the pre-experience decision making phase of the travel experience through case studies of two New Zealand tourism businesses which involve backpacker and fully independent tourists as their customers (Stray Ltd and Spaceships New Zealand Ltd). The thesis research used both quantitative and qualitative research methods in order to examine the influence of blogs and social networking sites on tourists‘ decision making. The quantitative data comprised of 206 semi-structured surveys completed by customers of the two companies. Qualitative data consisted of the collection of 330 photographs posted on the companies‘ websites which had been taken by customers, 19 customer videos, customer comments from both companies‘ websites, the content of the companies‘ Facebook and Twitter social networking sites, and a semi-structured interview with a representative from both companies. Analysis of the data revealed that Facebook is the most commonly used social networking site, with the usage of social networking sites being higher than that of blogs. However, neither Facebook nor blogs featured strongly when used by customers to make decisions, with travel ratings websites and official destination websites being more commonly used. Analysis of the qualitative data showed a difference in language, structure and time between the social networking site content and customer comment data. Customer comment data features more descriptions of a customers‘ trips and why they would recommend the company, rather than when the customers are going on the trip and what they are looking forward to, which was a characteristic of social networking site content. Analysis of the photographic and video data revealed differences between the two customer types, suggesting there is a clear difference between backpackers and fully independent travellers and their motivations for travel. This thesis contributes to the previous attention given to the role of technology in tourist decision making and trip bookings through focusing on the use of social networking sites and blogs and how this applies to tourism businesses

An exploratory study of screen-reader users navigating the web

textResearchers have learned much about how sighted individuals seek information on Web sites - for example, users follow "information scent" as they move from page to page, and individual differences may impact successful information seeking on the Web. While it is possible that individuals with disabilities, especially those with severe visual impairments, perform information-seeking activities in a similar manner, little is known about how individuals who use screen readers to navigate actually seek information on the Web. In this study, we used both qualitative and quantitative measures to investigate the Web navigation techniques of four screen-reader users and how a user’s experience affects these navigation techniques and his or her ability to successfully complete an information-finding task. We compared metrics for between-page and within-page navigation to studies of sighted users. We also considered how a Web site’s compliance with Section 508 guidelines affects the overall information-finding experience of a visually-impaired individual. We discovered that among the four individuals in this study, user experience was not necessarily indicative of a successful information-finding experience. As individuals, the participants' navigation techniques varied widely; as a group, they generally searched more frequently and used the back button less frequently than has been reported for sighted individuals. Screen-reader users in this study followed a more flimsy, linear navigation style and generally used scrolling actions rather than searching actions. When using a Web site that has a Section 508 compliant home page, we found that the screen-reader users in this study completed information-finding tasks significantly more quickly, used significantly fewer actions, and reported a more satisfying information-finding experience. They were also more successful at finding the information goal and encountered fewer impasses. Using both quantitative and qualitative measures was critical in this study. The quantitative metrics allowed us to compare values and the qualitative data provided additional insight into individual differences as well as allowing a deeper understanding of the quantitative data. The information from this study contributes to the growing body of research knowledge about screen-reader users. It also contributes a new understanding of screen-reader users that can be used by the worldwide community of Web developers, designers, and users.Informatio