Examining a Metric for Predicting the Accessibility
of Information within Hypertext Structures

by
Michael Lewis Bernard
Spring 2002

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated a proposed metric intended to ascertain the accessibility of information associated with various hypertext structures. This was done by determining if the derived information accessibility metric index corresponded with tests of hypertext accessibility (task completion accuracy, search time, deviations from the optimal path, the number of back-page commands, and perceptions of ease-of-use and navigational disorientation) for these structures. This metric takes into account the overall ‘shape’ (i.e., depth, breadth, and topology) of a hypertext structure. In general, the metric accurately predicted information accessibility of the studied hypertexts. It was most accurate for the objective measures of search performance, especially the number of deviations from the optimal path, and the number of back-page commands for the more complex hypertext conditions. It was concluded that this metric could help serve as an accurate predictor of information accessibility for various types of hypertext structures.

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