Factors influencing hypertext reading comprehension

Abstract

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.