Effects of Link Arrangements on Search Efficiency
3.1 Search Times
Mean times to complete three search tasks for each treatment are shown in Table 1. Search mean times are graphed by treatment in Figure 1, as a polygon graph, or in Figure 2, as a bar chart. The total search times were transformed using a two-way ANOVA, see Figure 3. The link number made a significant difference in the search times F(1,36) = 14.69, df = 1, P < 0.01, N=42. There was also an interaction effect between the number of columns and the link arrangement F(2,36) = 4.143, df = 2, P < 0.02. There was no significance in the column treatments F(2,36) = 1.90, df = 2, P < 0.16.
The 155-link arrangement results have a significantly faster search time for the three-column treatment, while the two-column treatment search times were the slowest. The one-way ANOVA for the 30-link arrangement is annotated in Figure 4. The one-way ANOVA for the 155-link arrangement is reflected in Figure 5. There is a significant difference in search times for the 155-link arrangement.
Table 1. Search mean times (in seconds)
Figure 1. Search mean times
(in seconds)
to complete three search tasks
Figure 2. Search mean times
(in seconds)
to complete three search tasks.
Figure 3. Two-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).
Figure 4. One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
30-Link Arrangement.
Figure 5. One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
155-Link Arrangement.
3.2 Subjective Satisfaction
Participant subjective satisfaction responses were requested for the following: link arrangement, search ease, space between columns, space between rows and font. Figure 6, shows the satisfaction levels for link arrangement by treatment. The satisfaction levels were highest for the three-column treatment in both cases. Although, Figure 7, a two-way ANOVA did not show any levels of significance within or between groups. The two-column treatment had the lowest satisfaction results. Figure 8, charts the satisfaction results of search ease. Satisfaction levels for search ease are highest in both three-column treatments. Again, Figure 9, a two-way ANOVA for search ease did not show levels of significance between or within groups.
Figure 6. Link Arrangement
Satisfaction by Treatment.
Rated from 1 (Hard to follow) to 9 (Easy to
follow)
Figure
7. Two-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
Link Arrangement Satisfaction
Figure 8. Search Ease
Satisfaction by Treatment..
Rated from 1 (Hard to follow) to 9 (Easy to
follow)
Figure
9. Two-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
Search Ease Satisfaction
Raw Data can be found in its entirety in the appendices.
The statistics program, Mystat,
was used to complete all data calculations.
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Discussion
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Effects of Link Arrangement on Search Efficiency
