Spatial navigational techniques have been proposed to assist hypermedia users in discerning the structure of the content, facilitating both the organization and integration of new information. In this study, novice hypermedia users tended to use a fairly passive strategy for selecting their movement through the system, based more on screen position rather than deliberate conceptual choices, whether they had a graphical browser for navigation or just hotwords in the text. Most made a deliberate effort to view all screens but often felt confused. Suggestions for improving navigational aids based on path data analysis, survey data, and user interviews are given.
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