User navigation in complex database systems

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Abstract
Building on earlier work in which user interaction with complex databases is conceptualized in terms of 'navigation1, the present study investigates users’ navigational strategies and the implications for navigation of different control options (front-ends). A pilot study which gave subjects three control options showed that such a free choice caused confusion and hence the advantages of all the available options were not explored. In a second study, subjects were provided with only two control options in two separate conditions. Behaviour and performance were investigated with regard to different methods of information retrieval from a page-based system of property descriptions. In Condition 1 the control options were Direct Addressing and Linked Addressing, in Condition 2 the options were Direct Addressing and Parsed Search. Results indicate that a system of Linked Addressing (following signposts) was the most effective control option and that the different front-ends promoted the adoption of different navigational strategies.

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