The Internet as a space of knowledge: psychological aspects of hypertext structures

• Main Author: Voiskounsky A.E.
• Format: Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Moscow State University of Psychology and Education 2017-12-01
• Series: Современная зарубежная психология
• Subjects: cyberspace; hypertext; online; a hyperlink; the psychology of reading; hypermedia; information search; link; non-linear text; cognitive load; storytelling; cyberpsychology.
• Online Access: http://psyjournals.ru/files/91116/jmfp_2017_n_4_Voiskounsky.pdf

In modern researches which could be attributed to psychology of Internet or, put another way, to cyberpsychology, works on game and communicative behavior are massively presented. The article argues that no less attention of psychologists should be paid to features of cognitive activity in Internet. It is noted that indirect Internet search through keywords and Boolean operators, as well as reading of found online materials (articles, textbooks and encyclopedias, thematic discussions and posts, news in electronic MEDIA, etc.) alongside with distant learning, inquiry, etc. qualitatively differ from traditional methods of performing cognitive activity, in particular by virtue of a special organizational structure of cyberspace-combining various elements through hyperlinks. The saturation of traditional information materials of such links leads to the formation of hypertext structures. Hypertext operation (and hypermedia) is the most characteristic feature of the implementation of the cognitive activity in the modern epoch. The article discusses the psychological specificity of hypertext structures in the process of reading and understanding in works of artistic culture in everyday life and in training activities. It is noted that hypertext document used for training should avoid unmotivated links and introduce elements of standardization.