Effects of Text Structure and Prior Knowledge of the Learner on Navigation in Hypertext

In this study we examined the effects of 3 hypertext topologies—hierarchical, nonlinear, and mixed (hierarchical structure with cross referential links)—on the navigation performance of participants with high and low prior knowledge of the text topic. After reading the text, participants used the document to find the answers to 10 questions. After a filled distraction period, participants returned to the document to answer 10 more questions. The results showed that participants in the mixed condition performed better than those in the other 2 conditions and that the performance of knowledgeable participants was superior to that of nonknowledgeable participants. These results are discussed in relation to the ways in which text structure interacts with background knowledge of the user in enhancing or impeding performance. Actual or potential applications of this research include the design and implementation of hypertext systems for users with different levels of familiarity with the subject matter of the text.