Frequency distributions of hypertext path patterns: A pragmatic approach

• Published in: Information processing & management Vol. 30; no. 1; pp. 131 - 140
• Main Author: Qiu, Liwen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1994; Elsevier Science; Pergamon Press; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Binomial distribution; Computerized information storage and retrieval; Exact sciences and technology; Frequency distribution; Hypermedia; Hypertext; Information and communication sciences; Information processing and retrieval; Information Retrieval; Information retrieval. Man machine relationship; Information science. Documentation; Information systems; Literature Reviews; Mathematical models; Navigation (Information Systems); Path patterns; Research Needs; Sciences and techniques of general use; Search Strategies; Searches; Searching; Statistical Distributions; Studies; Users (Information); Data analysis; Search strategy; Hypertext; Methodology; Information browsing; Research and development; Document retrieval; Documentation data processing; Test; Discrete distribution; Mathematical model; Path length; User behavior; Data gathering
• ISSN: 0306-4573; 1873-5371
• DOI: 10.1016/0306-4573(94)90028-0

The objective of this research is to discover the path patterns through which users retrieve information in hypertext systems. A pragmatic approach was taken in which the use of a hypertext information retrieval system by a group of subjects was monitored to collect path pattern data. Two frequency distribution models were then developed and tested using these data. Path length followed a shifted negative binomial distribution. The frequency of node visiting followed a Zipf distribution. The influence of search tasks on path patterns was examined and found to have no effect. The models developed and tested in this study can provide a background for examination of systems via simulation studies.