The effect of visual design and placement of intra-article navigation schemes on reading comprehension and website user perceptions

Multipage articles on websites require intra-article navigation schemes and, when well designed, such navigational schemes signal the topical structure of the article’s contents. This study examines the effect of the visual design and placement of intra-article navigation schemes on website users’ reading comprehension and user experience. Using an informational medical website, four treatments of an intra-article navigation scheme were varied in their level of visual distinctness from the site’s other navigation devices and in their placement in the web page. Significant differences were found for reading comprehension and perceived knowledge gained. Reading comprehension was highest with an intra-article navigation scheme that was most visually distinct as an article table of contents and that replaced the site’s navigation on the web page layout. Paradoxically, participants’ perceptions of the amount of knowledge they gained were rated lowest for this condition. Suggestions for navigation design are presented.

► Design and placement of intra-article navigation versus comprehension and perceptions.
► Four intra-article navigation schemes were tested.
► Reading comprehension highest when table of contents replaces site navigation.
► Perceptions of amount of knowledge gained lowest when comprehension highest.