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The Long-Term Effects of Single versus Multiple Metaphors on Experts and Novices' Search Behaviors
PROCEEDINGS

, Center for General Education, National Tsing-Hua University, Taiwan ; , Institute of Communication Studies, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan

EdMedia + Innovate Learning, in Lugano, Switzerland ISBN 978-1-880094-53-2 Publisher: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE), Waynesville, NC

Abstract

Metaphors are used enormously in designing websites to facilitate multiple user tasks for years. Nevertheless, there is limited research examining metaphor's effects in facilitating user tasks. There is disagreement regarding using single or multiple metaphors in designing computer systems. Concerning their long term effects, Norman (1998) claims that metaphors lose utility once users are familiar with the system. Furthermore, little evidences can be found as regards to their effects on users with different computer experience. The researcher proposes a metaphor design methodology to examine the long-term effects of single versus multiple metaphors on subjects' information search behaviors and their effects on Internet novices and experts. Ninety-eight college students participated in this study. The findings suggest that metaphor's effects decrease over time as users become more experienced. Moreover, multiple metaphors facilitate experts search better than it does on novices.

Citation

Hsu, Y.c. & Lee, J. (2004). The Long-Term Effects of Single versus Multiple Metaphors on Experts and Novices' Search Behaviors. In L. Cantoni & C. McLoughlin (Eds.), Proceedings of ED-MEDIA 2004--World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia & Telecommunications (pp. 4459-4463). Lugano, Switzerland: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved March 28, 2024 from .