Table 3.
Website performance for dichotomizeda Flat Explicit Design Model variables in 12 variable groupings.
| 19 Flat Explicit Design Model variablesa listed in their low-complexity form | Website complexity for each variable groupb | Nc | Content disclosure task: number of times ≥5 correct of 7d | Find contents: number of times all 3 tasks completed correctlye | Find contents: mean time (seconds) to correctly find contentsf | Website ease of use ratingg | |||||
|
|
ne(%) |
|
nf(%) |
|
Mean | Range | Mean | Median | |||
| Dimension 1: page complexity | |||||||||||
|
|
Few navigation areas Few topic Areas Few columns |
High | 113 | 30 (26g) |
|
62 (54.4j) |
|
60.2i | 10.3-207.8 | 3.1h | 3 |
|
|
Low | 75 | 13 (17) |
|
54 (72.0) |
|
50.1 | 12.4-169.3 | 3.4 | 4 | |
|
|
Shallow depth of hierarchy Few themes presented Few display distractions Easy to moderate reading ease |
High | 76 | 12 (16g) |
|
32 (42.1j) |
|
65.3j | 10.3-207.8 | 2.9j | 3 |
|
|
Low | 112 | 31 (27) |
|
84 (74.3) |
|
50.6 | 12.4-169.3 | 3.5 | 4 | |
|
|
Fewer hyperlinks | High | 150 | 42 (28h) |
|
96 (63.6) |
|
55.5 | 10.3-207.8 | 3.4i | 3 |
|
|
Low | 38 | 1 (3) |
|
20 (52.6) |
|
58.0 | 21.1-169.3 | 2.7 | 3 | |
|
|
Used low-level hyperlink categories | High | 38 | 6 (16) |
|
13 (34h) |
|
67.5i | 22.4-150.3 | 2.8i | 3 |
|
|
Low | 150 | 37 (25) |
|
103 (68) |
|
53.2 | 10.3-207.8 | 3.3 | 3.5 | |
| Dimension 2: navigation simplicity | |||||||||||
|
|
Used a constant navigational toolbar Had moderate reading level |
High | 76 | 7 (9j) |
|
39 (51.3h) |
|
60.3h | 10.3-207.8 | 2.9j | 3 |
|
|
Low | 112 | 36 (32) |
|
77 (68.1) |
|
53.5 | 12.4-150.3 | 3.5 | 4 | |
|
|
Used explicit hyperlink labels | High | 114 | 13 (11j) |
|
52 (45.6j) |
|
62.7j | 10.3-207.8 | 2.8j | 3 |
|
|
Low | 74 | 30 (40) |
|
64 (85.3) |
|
47.1 | 12.4-137.5 | 3.8 | 4 | |
|
|
Hyperlinks were located in upper left of the page | High | 151 | 31 (20) |
|
82 (52.6j) |
|
59.6j | 10.3-207.8 | 3.0j | 3 |
|
|
Low | 37 | 12 (32) |
|
34 (91.9) |
|
42.8 | 12.4-112.1 | 4.0 | 4 | |
|
|
Introductory content located after hyperlinks | High | 38 | 1 (3i) |
|
20 (52.6) |
|
58.0 | 21.1-169.3 | 2.7i | 3 |
|
|
Low | 150 | 42 (28) |
|
96 (63.6) |
|
55.5 | 10.3-207.8 | 3.4 | 3 | |
| Dimension 3: comprehensibility | |||||||||||
|
|
Fewer words on homepage Shorter homepage length |
High | 75 | 18 (24) |
|
53 (70.7h) |
|
51.8g | 10.3-207.8 | 3.5i | 4 |
|
|
Low | 113 | 25 (22) |
|
63 (55.3) |
|
58.7 | 15.7-169.3 | 3.1 | 3 | |
|
|
Memory aids were available | High | 75 | 19 (25) |
|
50 (65.8) |
|
54.6 | 15.7-169.3 | 3.2 | 3 |
|
|
Low | 113 | 24 (21) |
|
66 (58.4) |
|
57.1 | 10.3-207.8 | 3.3 | 3 | |
|
|
Use of dialect Minimal inference required |
High | 151 | 31 (20) |
|
82 (54.0j) |
|
59.6j | 10.3-207.8 | 3.0j | 3 |
|
|
Low | 37 | 12 (32) |
|
34 (91.9) |
|
42.8 | 12.4-112.1 | 4.0 | 4 | |
|
|
Reading level ≤11th grade | High | 38 | 6 (16) |
|
19 (50) |
|
62.9 | 10.3-207.8 | 3.0 | 3 |
|
|
Low | 150 | 37 (25) |
|
97 (64) |
|
54.6 | 12.4-169.3g | 3.3 | 3 | |
a,bVariables that are collinear are grouped together. Each variable was dichotomized, or split, into two levels. One was defined as “low complexity” and the other “high complexity.”
cThe number of tasks performed on “high”- or “low”-complexity websites. N is the number of subjects times the number of websites summed across websites with low and high complexity level of the design variables, for example, if N=38 this would imply that 38 subjects viewed this level of complexity, and given there were 38 subjects total, this means that only 1 website met this criteria; if N=114 (ie, 38×3) this implies that 3 websites met this criteria.
dThe number of times participants got >5 correct on a website. The data are separated in the table by whether the task was performed on websites with “high” or “low” complexity. Given there are 38 subjects the maximum correct is 38×5=190.
eThe number of times participants correctly found all 3 pieces of information on a website. The data are separated in the table by whether the task was performed on websites with “high” or “low” complexity.
fThis is based on the mean time to find information in the participants who correctly answered within the 5 minute time allotted.
gSignificance P>.05
hSignificance P≤.05.
iSignificance P≤.01.
jSignificance P≤.001.