Analyzing learner-hypermedia interaction: An overview of online methods

In this paper we examine the potential of online methods for hypermedia res earch. Online methods allow the recording, analysis and interpretation of l earner-hypermedia interaction. Online methods have been extensively used in cognitive research, and especially in the area of discourse processing. In the first part of the paper we examine several online methods used in disc ourse comprehension research. We discuss the benefits and limits of each me thod, and its applicability to hypermedia research. In the second part we f ocus on the analysis of learner-hypermedia interaction protocols. We introd uce several possible approaches, as a function of the observation grain, or the precision of the events that the researcher needs to examine. We prese nt qualitative and quantitative examples at the coarse, intermediate and fi ne grain and we discuss the research context in which each approach seems m ost appropriate. We conclude that the empirical study of learner-hypermedia interaction should comply with the general standards of empirical research , e. g., explicit hypotheses and controlled study conditions.