Navigation behavior models for link structure optimization

Abstract

Analysis of existing methods for automatic optimization of link structures shows that these methods rely heavily on assumptions about the preferences and navigation behavior of users. Authors often do not state these assumptions explicitly and do not evaluate whether the assumptions are consistent with the actual behavior of the users of the site. This is a serious deficiency as experiments with simulated users show that incorrect assumptions can easily lead to inefficient link structures. In this work we present a framework that gives a systematic overview of alternative assumptions. On the basis of the framework we can select a set of assumptions that best matches the navigation behavior of the users in the site’s log files. We also present a method for optimizing hierarchical navigation menus on the basis of the selected assumptions. This method can be used interactively under full control of a web master. The system proposes modifications of the structure and explains why these modifications lead to more efficient menus. Evaluation by means of a case study shows that the modifications that are proposed effectively reduce the expected navigation time while preserving the coherence of the menu structure.