Hypereference and Conventional Dictionary Use While Reading a Foreign Language

A hypereference is defined as an electronic aid which provides immediate access to adjunct information with a clear and direct return path to the target information. Eighty undergraduate foreign language learners participated in this investigation of hypereference and conventional paper-based dictionary media on consultation frequency, reading time and comprehension. Findings revealed that the hypereference users consulted over two times as many definitions as those who used paper dictionaries. Although they consulted more definitions, the hypereferences users did not have higher overall reading times indicating the efficiency advantages of hypereferences. Differences on comprehension were not significant. A second aspect of this study compared bilingual and monolingual dictionary use across media on consultation frequency and reading time. Bilingual dictionary users consulted over 25% more definitions and completed reading in 20% less time than those who used monolingual dictionaries. Suggestions for additional research and development with hypereferences are offered. Since the beginning of personal computing a little over a decade ago, word processing has exemplified the benefits that electronic data management offers over established methods of writing with a pencil or typewriter. These advantages are particularly evident to those language educators who have found that word processing makes it easier to rearrange text during revisions (Leonardi, 1987), enhances the quality of printed copy which results in greater pride of authorship (Kahn, 1987; Baer, 1988), and improves access to reference tools such as a spelling checker or thesaurus (Kasnic & Stefano, 1987). But despite the evident success of word processing, visions of paperless schools and offices appear even more distant now than in the early days of personal computing. This is because the majority of information that currently begins in electronic format is converted to before it is read The study reported here considers potential benefits of learning directly from electronic-based information which is viewed as a viable alternative to the growing managerial and ecological pitfalls of an ever increasing dependance on paper. Hypertext and Hypereferences The general term hypertext has recently been used to describe an array of emerging technologies for accessing, organizing and relating electronic-based information. Ted Nelson (1981, 1982) is credited with the first use of this term in reference to a hypothetical electronic notebook which allows users to immediately consult elaborations on any word or phrase by simply pointing to or "clicking" the information that they may wish to learn more about. Nelson's ideas for this hypertext notebook can be traced to Vannevar Bush (1945) who described a mechanism called the Memex as "a device in which an individual stores his books, records, communications, and which is mechanized so that it can be consulted with exceeding speed and flexibility." (106-7). Bush believed that the Memex's immediate and flexible access to information was similar to the way humans think. Consequently, he claimed that the Memex would be of greater benefit to human communication and learning than existing information management tools. Until recently, prototypes based on the Memex were accessible only to investigators, such as Engelbart and English (1968), experimenting in isolated labs connected to powerful mainframe computers and mass storage devices. However, advances in the storage capacity and processing speed of personal computers combined with software,