Document Type
Dissertation
Disciplines
1.2 COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCE, Computer Sciences
Abstract
This study explores the impact of scrolling and dynamic pagination in long-form online documents on reader performance and reader experience. Previous research has produced mixed results, indicating no difference between modes, or a positive effect favouring scrolling. Recent advances in web standards have enabled simpler, dynamic, performant methods of pagination to tailor content responsively to any screen, meriting renewed study in this area. This paper uses one such method to load subsequent online news pages instantly without buffering. In an online browser experiment with 38 participants, an increase in reading speed in the scrolling mode was found at a level of significance. This follows previous research which has suggested that while a scrolling presentation style exacts extra demands on working memory capacity (WMC), many current web users have developed compensatory strategies and cognitive flexibility for navigating scrolling web documents.
Recommended Citation
Herlihy, R. (2022). Scrolling vg Paging: Reading Performance and Preference of Reading Modes in Long-form Online News. [Technological University Dublin).
Creative Commons License
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Publication Details
A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Technological University Dublin for the degree of M.Sc. in Computer Science (Advanced Software Development) 2022.