Evaluating hypertext

The paper discusses an on-going project to evaluate the effectiveness of hypertext course materials in active use. It provides some summary statistics which illustrate a wide range of reader behaviour. The explanations of such behaviour are, no doubt complex, and sifting some useful information from the data is not simple. Some success has been obtained in the use of a simple stochastic model based on transition matrices, and some of the hypotheses addressed and suggested by this model, are discussed. The authors feel that the transition matrix approach may provide a valuable means of matching multimedia design to the patterns of use for which they are aimed.