IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/infosf/v13y2011i4d10.1007_s10796-010-9227-3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Impacts of navigation structure, task complexity, and users’ domain knowledge on Web site usability—an empirical study

Author

Listed:
  • Xiang Fang

    (Miami University)

  • Clyde W. Holsapple

    (University of Kentucky)

Abstract

It is essential for designers of Web sites to understand what navigation structure results in better usability for knowledge acquisition tasks of varying complexity and the Web site users with different level of domain knowledge. Literature shows that multiple factors may exert influence on Web site usability. Navigation structure, task complexity, and user domain knowledge level are among of those factors. Hypotheses are developed about the usability of alternative navigation structures, with different task complexity and user domain knowledge level. Experiments are designed and conducted to test these hypotheses in terms of user performance (accuracy, speed) in accomplishing sets of simple and comparatively complex knowledge acquisition tasks. User perceptions of usability are also measured. Two rounds of experimentation are performed, one with participants who have been trained in the domain of production and operations management, the other with participants who have not been trained in this domain. The results show that a usage-oriented hierarchy or a combined hierarchy are navigation structures associated with statistically significantly higher performance usability than a subject-oriented hierarchy, for both simple and relatively complex knowledge acquisition task sets. A statistically significant effect of domain knowledge on the perception aspect of usability is identified. The study contributes to enhancing the comprehension of researchers, practitioners, and educators about design and usability of Web site navigation structures.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiang Fang & Clyde W. Holsapple, 2011. "Impacts of navigation structure, task complexity, and users’ domain knowledge on Web site usability—an empirical study," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 13(4), pages 453-469, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:infosf:v:13:y:2011:i:4:d:10.1007_s10796-010-9227-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10796-010-9227-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10796-010-9227-3
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10796-010-9227-3?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jonathan W. Palmer, 2002. "Web Site Usability, Design, and Performance Metrics," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 13(2), pages 151-167, June.
    2. Wood, Robert E., 1986. "Task complexity: Definition of the construct," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 60-82, February.
    3. Lee Cronbach, 1951. "Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 16(3), pages 297-334, September.
    4. Kottemann, Jeffrey E. & Davis, Fred D. & Remus, William E., 1994. "Computer-Assisted Decision Making: Performance, Beliefs, and the Illusion of Control," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 57(1), pages 26-37, January.
    5. William H. DeLone & Ephraim R. McLean, 1992. "Information Systems Success: The Quest for the Dependent Variable," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 3(1), pages 60-95, March.
    6. Bernard C. Y. Tan & Kwok-Kee Wei & Richard T. Watson & Danial L. Clapper & Ephraim R. McLean, 1998. "Computer-Mediated Communication and Majority Influence: Assessing the Impact in an Individualistic and a Collectivistic Culture," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 44(9), pages 1263-1278, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Chulhwan Chris Bang, 2015. "Information systems frontiers: Keyword analysis and classification," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 217-237, February.
    2. César Guerra-García & Ismael Caballero & Mario Piattini, 2013. "Capturing data quality requirements for web applications by means of DQ_WebRE," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 433-445, July.
    3. R. Ramesh & H. Raghav Rao, 2011. "Editorial," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 13(4), pages 451-452, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yoonsun Oh & Jungsuk Oh, 2017. "A critical incident approach to consumer response in the smartphone market: product, service and contents," Information Systems and e-Business Management, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 577-597, August.
    2. Nripendra P. Rana & Yogesh K. Dwivedi & Michael D. Williams & Vishanth Weerakkody, 2015. "Investigating success of an e-government initiative: Validation of an integrated IS success model," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 127-142, February.
    3. Chen, Qian & Gong, Yeming & Lu, Yaobin & Tang, Jing, 2022. "Classifying and measuring the service quality of AI chatbot in frontline service," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 552-568.
    4. Garcia Martinez, Marian, 2017. "Inspiring crowdsourcing communities to create novel solutions: Competition design and the mediating role of trust," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 296-304.
    5. Pei Yee Chin & Nina Evans & Charles Zhechao Liu & Kim-Kwang Raymond Choo, 2020. "Understanding Factors Influencing Employees’ Consumptive and Contributive Use of Enterprise Social Networks," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 22(6), pages 1357-1376, December.
    6. Pei Yee Chin & Nina Evans & Charles Zhechao Liu & Kim-Kwang Raymond Choo, 0. "Understanding Factors Influencing Employees’ Consumptive and Contributive Use of Enterprise Social Networks," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-20.
    7. Kim, Changsu & Oh, Eunhae & Shin, Namchul & Chae, Myungsin, 2009. "An empirical investigation of factors affecting ubiquitous computing use and U-business value," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(6), pages 436-448.
    8. Aladwani, Adel M., 2017. "Compatible quality of social media content: Conceptualization, measurement, and affordances," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 37(6), pages 576-582.
    9. Segars, A. H., 1997. "Assessing the unidimensionality of measurement: a paradigm and illustration within the context of information systems research," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 107-121, February.
    10. Chae Hyun Lee & Han Na Lee & Jeong Il Choi, 2023. "The Influence of Characteristics of Mobile Live Commerce on Purchase Intention," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-13, March.
    11. Song, Jaeki & Baker, Jeff & Lee, Sangno & Wetherbe, James C., 2012. "Examining online consumers’ behavior: A service-oriented view," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 221-231.
    12. Viswanath Venkatesh & Ritu Agarwal, 2006. "Turning Visitors into Customers: A Usability-Centric Perspective on Purchase Behavior in Electronic Channels," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 52(3), pages 367-382, March.
    13. Marya Wani & Vishnupriya Raghavan & Dolphy Abraham & Virginia Kleist, 0. "Beyond utilitarian factors: User experience and travel company website successes," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-17.
    14. Yoonsun Oh & Jungsuk Oh, 0. "A critical incident approach to consumer response in the smartphone market: product, service and contents," Information Systems and e-Business Management, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-21.
    15. Farzana Sharmin & Mohammad Tipu Sultan & Daniel Badulescu & Alina Badulescu & Afrodita Borma & Benqian Li, 2021. "Sustainable Destination Marketing Ecosystem through Smartphone-Based Social Media: The Consumers’ Acceptance Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-24, February.
    16. Ageeva, Elena & Melewar, T.C. & Foroudi, Pantea & Dennis, Charles, 2019. "Cues adopted by consumers in examining corporate website favorability: An empirical study of financial institutions in the UK and Russia," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 15-32.
    17. Aladwani, Adel M. & Dwivedi, Yogesh K., 2018. "Towards a theory of SocioCitizenry: Quality anticipation, trust configuration, and approved adaptation of governmental social media," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 261-272.
    18. Asadollah kordnaeij & Hossein Askaripoor & Abbas Imani, 2013. "The Impact of E-Baking Service Quality Dimensions on Customers' Satisfaction and Brand Equity (Case Study: Refah Bank, Tehran)," Business and Management Research, Business and Management Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 2(4), pages 25-37, December.
    19. Rawin Vongurai, 2019. "Factors Affecting Net Benefit of Google Drive Adoption Decision: A Case Study of Thais’ Living in Bangkok, Thailand," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(4), pages 149-165.
    20. Hwang, ShinYoung, 2018. "Would satisfaction with smart speakers transfer into loyalty towards the smart speaker provider?," 22nd ITS Biennial Conference, Seoul 2018. Beyond the boundaries: Challenges for business, policy and society 190336, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:infosf:v:13:y:2011:i:4:d:10.1007_s10796-010-9227-3. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.