Comprehension and Retention of Nonlinear Text: Considerations of Working Memory and Material-Appropriate Processing

The specific processes that support comprehension and retention of hypertext information and the manner in which those processes differ from those involved in the comprehension and retention of traditional linear text were examined in 4 experiments. Experiments 1 and 2 demonstrate that although processing hypertext is not more demanding overall than processing linear text, processing hypertext does make more demands for use of relational information. Experiments 3 and 4 provide tests of the operational assumptions and methods used in the initial two experiments and provide converging evidence to support the notion that hypertext requires a different balance of processing resources than does linear text. Results and directions for research with new information technologies are discussed using the constructs of a limited-capacity working memory and material-appropriate processing.