7. References

[1] Danielson, D. R. (2002). Web navigation and the behavioral effects of constantly visible site maps. Interacting with Computers, 14 (5),October 2002, pp. 601-618. [2] Dieberger, A. (1997). A city metaphor to support navigation in complex information spaces. Spatial Information Theory: a Theoretical Basic for Gis, 1329, 67. [3] Farkas, D. K. & Farkas, J. B. (2000). Guidelines for designing web navigation. Technical Communication. Third Quarter, 341-358. [4] Nielson, J. (2002). Site Map Usability. [Online]:http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20020106.html (Accessed: 6 Mar 2003)

7. References

[1] Danielson, D. R. (2002). Web navigation and the behavioral effects of constantly visible site maps. Interacting with Computers, 14 (5),October 2002, pp. 601-618. [2] Dieberger, A. (1997). A city metaphor to support navigation in complex information spaces. Spatial Information Theory: a Theoretical Basic for Gis, 1329, 67. [3] Farkas, D. K. & Farkas, J. B. (2000). Guidelines for designing web navigation. Technical Communication. Third Quarter, 341-358. [4] Nielson, J. (2002). Site Map Usability. [Online]:http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20020106.html (Accessed: 6 Mar 2003)

Participants performed better with a site map. They found the correct information more frequently. Also, they used less time, visited fewer pages, and required fewer clicks, when the site map was visible and clickable. These results confirmed the first hypothesis that users perform better with a continuously visible site map, and with a site map with clickable links.

The second hypothesis that the benefits of site maps would be more pronounced as site size increases was also supported. Site maps are more effective with larger and more complicated sites.

1. AbstractWe evaluated the influence of site maps in an information-searching task. Users performed better with a constantly visible site map and they were faster with clickable links. The benefits were more pronounced with large sites. A continuously visible, clickable site map is recommended particularly for large web sites or complex hypertext documents.

1. AbstractWe evaluated the influence of site maps in an information-searching task. Users performed better with a constantly visible site map and they were faster with clickable links. The benefits were more pronounced with large sites. A continuously visible, clickable site map is recommended particularly for large web sites or complex hypertext documents.

The between subject variable was the web site; we used three sites with 24, 45, and 109 individual pages respectively.

A Pentium III desktop computer, equipped with the logging software, ErgoBrowser®, was used to collect data. Participants’ activities were logged during the information-seeking tasks. The total number of correct answers, the task-completion time, the total number of pages visited, and the total number of clicks required were recorded.

In the experiment, participants were asked to perform nine information-searching tasks for each web site. They were not allowed to use any searching functions, and they always started from the Home Page of the site for each question. The orders in which participants used the sites were counterbalanced.

Influence of Site MapsInfluence of Site MapsApril Yip & Ian Spence

Department of Psychology, The University of Toronto

april@psych.utoronto.ca spence@psych.utoronto.ca

2. Site Map

3. The Study

4. Results

A site map is a potentially useful aid in web navigation. It shows the structure and the organization of the site explicitly. It can also provide shortcuts to the important pages of a site [3]. Numerous design and usability guidelines have recommended that every site can benefit from the addition of a site map [3, 4].

An available site overview is beneficial for users when performing information-seeking tasks [1]. However, since many site maps are hidden from users, they are often overlooked [4]. A continuously visible site map may encourage use.

Also, although hyperlinks provide access to other pages, a heavily linked site can cause disorientation [2]. Site maps may help avoid this.

In this study, the influence of visibility and clickable hyperlinks were examined. The size of web sites was also varied.

6. Conclusions

This study provided empirical evidence for the positive benefits of site maps. Making the site structure explicit, and providing clickable links, enhances performance in an information searching task.

These results should be taken into consideration when designing a large web site or complex hypertext document.

66 students (37 males and 29 females) at the University of Toronto participated.

The within subject variables were the visibility of a site map; and whether it had clickable links. In the control condition no site map was provided.

5. Discussion

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by an IBM Center for Advanced Studies Fellowship to April Yip and by a grant to Ian Spence from Communications and Information Technology Ontario (CITO) and a Collaborative Research and Development (CRD) grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada.

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by an IBM Center for Advanced Studies Fellowship to April Yip and by a grant to Ian Spence from Communications and Information Technology Ontario (CITO) and a Collaborative Research and Development (CRD) grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada.

The Engineering Psychology Laboratory gratefully acknowledges the support of

Hypotheses

1. Users will perform better:

with a continuously visible site mapwith a site map with clickable links

2. The benefits of site maps will be more pronounced as site size increases

Hypotheses

1. Users will perform better:

with a continuously visible site mapwith a site map with clickable links

2. The benefits of site maps will be more pronounced as site size increases