The impact of skim reading and navigation when reading hyperlinks on the web, experimental data 2009-2018

It has been suggested that readers spend a great deal of time skim reading on the Web and that this type of reading can affect comprehension of text. Across 2 experiments, we utilised eye tracking methodology to explore how hyperlinks and navigating web pages affect reading behaviour. In Experiment 1, participants read static web pages either for comprehension or whilst skim reading, while in Experiment 2, participants additionally read through a navigable Web environment. Embedded target words were either hyperlinks or not and were either high-frequency or low-frequency words. Results from Experiment 1 showed readers only fully lexically process linked words when skim reading, as was evidenced by a frequency effect that was absent for the unlinked words. They did fully lexically process both linked and unlinked words when reading for comprehension. In Experiment 2, which allowed for navigating, readers only fully lexically processed linked words compared to unlinked words, regardless of whether they were skim reading or reading for comprehension. We suggest that readers engage in an efficient reading strategy where they attempt to minimise comprehension loss while maintaining a high reading speed. Readers use hyperlinks as markers to suggest important information and use them to navigate through the text in an efficient and effective way. The task of reading on the Web causes readers to engage with the text in a markedly different way from typical reading experiments. <p>The centrality of the Web for scientific research and economic activity has not been matched by our understanding of its complex relationship with the embedding society. In part this is because of its Protean nature and ubiquity. It exists at a variety of scales, from engineering protocols to websites, small communities to giant e-government and e-commerce systems. It is engineered technology, and a network of overlapping social networks.Hence the Web's study is legitimate from many disciplinary perspectives. To engage with it as a first-order object requires an interdisciplinary overview, grounded by an understanding of its engineering principles, that currently few researchers can achieve. The aim of this Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) proposal is to create a cohort of researchers that (a) have appropriate research skills, (b) have a breadth of understanding of multidisciplinary approaches to the Web, and (c) are a coherent community.Such a cohort will enhance our understanding of the Web in a number of ways. They will carry out deep and committed research, which they will be able to situate in a wider context. The number of researchers will create a critical mass, able to promote Web Science in the academic community and help make it a hub for research investment over the medium term.The DTC aims to produce PhDs to fill the need, but who are also aware of each other's work and the work of relevant fields. This community awareness will be fostered in a number of ways. Students will: (i) begin with an MSc to equip them for the technical methods required for Web Science; (ii) have a base in the School of Electronics and Computer Science and the Web Science Research Initiative (WSRI) wherever their main location; (iii) share a core introduction to relevant disciplines, and to the protocols that make up the Web; (iv) be partly assessed on interdisciplinary group projects; and (v) attend joint research seminars. In this way the DTC will add value compared to a stream of isolated DTAs.The DTC will avoid introspection, and will be outward-looking. The Web is an international phenomenon, and WSRI is affiliated with other Web Science labs in a global network. All DTC funded students will be offered the opportunity to spend up to 3 months studying at one of these labs, or in an industrial placement. Furthermore, WSRI will host international scholars of all levels from other labs, and students will be able to attend their seminars and discuss their work.The creation of a cohort of researchers will be beneficial for the Web and our interactions with it. The continuing health of the Web is clearly a matter of interest for everyone, and this DTC will help develop a set of researchers able to understand the Web at varying scales, from varying points of view, and with a clear perception of the international dimension.A PhD in Web Science will be a valuable asset in many industries operating in the digital economy, including e-health, the media, finance or e-defence, where quality of service provided depends both on technological developments and the integration of technology into a social context. Issues such as security, privacy and collective intelligence matter just as much as methods of inference or the structure of the Web. The breadth of understanding that Web Science provides will also be vital in the software and hardware development companies which not only add value to the British economy but also support the Web itself.Finally, the Web is an important tool for government, in terms of communication and coordination within itself, and of delivery of services and supply of information to citizens. Once more, Web Science would enable an understanding of the technology and the social context for the next generation of government officials, allowing them (a) to apply current Web technology to existing problems, and (b) to engage with the future development of the Web in socially beneficial ways.</p>已有研究表明，读者在网页上进行大量浅阅读，且此类阅读方式会影响文本理解。本研究通过两项实验，采用眼动追踪（eye tracking）方法，探究超链接（hyperlinks）与网页浏览行为对阅读行为的影响。实验1中，被试阅读静态网页，任务分为理解型阅读或浅阅读；实验2中，被试还需在可导航的网页环境中完成阅读。嵌入的目标词可分为超链接词与非超链接词，且分为高频词与低频词。 实验1结果显示：仅在浅阅读情境下，读者才会对超链接词进行完整的词汇加工，该效应可由超链接词存在频率效应得到佐证，而该频率效应在非超链接词中并未出现。在理解型阅读情境下，读者会对超链接词与非超链接词均进行完整的词汇加工。 实验2允许被试进行网页导航，结果显示：无论被试处于浅阅读还是理解型阅读，仅会对超链接词进行完整的词汇加工，而非超链接词则无此效应。 研究者据此提出，读者会采取高效的阅读策略：在维持较高阅读速度的同时，尽可能降低理解损失。读者将超链接作为标记以识别重要信息，并借助其高效且有效地浏览文本。网页阅读行为与典型实验室阅读存在显著差异。 <p>网页在科学研究与经济活动中的核心地位，却未与我们对其与所处社会之间复杂关系的认知所匹配。部分原因在于其多变性与普及性：其存在于多个尺度，从工程协议到网站、小型社区到大型电子政务（e-government）与电子商务（e-commerce）系统，既是工程技术产物，也是重叠社交网络的集合。因此，对网页的研究可从多学科视角开展。将网页作为一级研究对象，需要具备跨学科视野，并扎根于其工程原理的理解——而目前仅有少数研究者能够做到这一点。 本博士培训中心（Doctoral Training Centre, DTC）提案的目标，是打造一支研究团队：（a）掌握适配的研究技能；（b）具备跨学科研究网页的广度认知；（c）形成紧密联结的学术社群。 该研究团队将从多维度增进我们对网页的认知：其一，开展深入且专注的研究，并能将研究置于更广阔的语境中；其二，形成临界规模的学术群体，能够在学术界推广网页科学，并助力其成为中期研究投资的枢纽。 本DTC旨在培养满足行业需求的博士研究生，同时让他们能够了解彼此的研究成果与相关领域的研究进展。这种社群认知可通过多种方式培育： （i）学生将首先修读硕士阶段课程，以掌握网页科学所需的技术方法； （ii）无论其主要隶属机构为何，学生均将以电子与计算机科学学院与网页科学研究倡议（Web Science Research Initiative, WSRI）为依托； （iii）共享相关学科与构成网页的协议的核心导论课程； （iv）部分考核将基于跨学科小组项目； （v）参与联合研究研讨会。 通过上述方式，本DTC将比孤立的博士培训项目（DTA）更具附加值。 本DTC将避免闭门造车，保持开放视野。网页是全球性现象，WSRI与全球网络中的其他网页科学实验室保持合作。所有获得DTC资助的学生均有机会前往其中一间实验室开展最长达3个月的学习，或参与工业实习。此外，WSRI将接待来自其他实验室的各层级国际学者，学生可参与其研讨会并交流研究成果。 打造该研究团队将有益于网页及其与人类的交互体验。网页的持续健康发展显然是所有人都关注的议题，而本DTC将助力培养一批研究者，使其能够从多尺度、多视角理解网页，并清晰认知其国际维度。 网页科学博士学位将在数字经济的诸多行业中成为宝贵资产，包括电子医疗（e-health）、媒体、金融或电子国防（e-defence）等领域——这些行业的服务质量既依赖技术发展，也依赖技术与社会语境的融合。安全、隐私与集体智能等议题，与推理方法或网页结构同样重要。网页科学所提供的广度认知，对软硬件开发企业同样至关重要：这些企业不仅为英国经济创造价值，同时也支撑网页本身的发展。 最后，网页也是政府的重要工具，用于内部沟通协调，以及向公民提供服务与信息。同样，网页科学将助力下一代政府官员理解技术与社会语境，使其能够：（a）将现有网页技术应用于现有问题；（b）以对社会有益的方式参与网页的未来发展。</p>