The Impact of Hyper-components Design on Web Usefulness and Ease of Use

The structure and formal organization of a hypermedia design are critical to the effectiveness of the navigation process. Both nodes and hyperlinks often referred, as “hyper-components” are basic building blocks of hypermedia. Effective use of these components facilitates appropriate organization of data and efficient navigation. This study explores the impact of the number of hyperlinks and node size on user’s perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of websites. Results suggest that websites designed with many hyperlinks and small node size yield the highest positive users' perceptions. Theories of reasoned action and self-efficacy are the framework for the proposed model. Implications for navigation processes and web designs are discussed.