How users read concept maps: an eye-tracking study

Objectives: This paper examines how users read concept maps and seeks to identify those parts of concept maps that users focus on most and the order in which maps are reviewed. Methodology: The study used eye-tracking methodology. Results: It was observed that when reading concept maps users paid most attention to second horizontal entry levels and to the central area of the map. There was no significant difference of degree in the attention they paid to nodes or connecting sentences, and users initially read down the map, from one side to the other, from the root concept positioned at the top and in the middle of the map to the concept positioned at the bottom right-hand corner.