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Preface
The focus of the research reported here was on basic World Wide Web content and the examination of ways to help individuals learn this content while browsing. As such, issues relating to online classes and distance learning were beyond the scope of this particular research. Learning was examined through basic recall as well as knowledge structure—the meaningful connections individuals make between concepts. The more connections we make between concepts, the more tightly they are held in our memory and the denser our knowledge structure. Two studies were undertaken for this research: Pop-up previews attached to hyperlinks were part of the experimental manipulation for study one and knowledge structure change after exposure was the focus of study two.
Since the completion of this study in May 2005, research has progressed in this area. The following provides a current review of the relevant research.
Maes, van Geel, and Cozijn (2006) examined the use of previews in the hypermedia environment. They created three versions of a website, one without previews and two with previews attached to hyperlinks.