Science Communication XX(X) 1–34 © 2011 SAGE Publications Reprints and permission: http://www. sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1075547010386803 http://scx.sagepub.com 386803SCX XX X 10.1177/10755470 10386803YarosScience Communication © 2011 SAGE Publications Reprints and permission: http://www. sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav 1 University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA Corresponding Author: Ronald A. Yaros, Philip Merrill College of Journalism, University of Maryland, 2100-M Knight Hall, College Park, MD 20742-7111, USA Email: ryaros@umd.edu Effects of Text and Hypertext Structures on User Interest and Understanding of Science and Technology Ronald A.Yaros 1 Abstract An experiment (N = 301) manipulated two news stories about science and technology to investigate effects of text and link structures on interest and comprehension. A 2 (Text) × 2 (Link) factorial design included inverted pyramid stories versus a linear narrative. Dependent variables includ- ed self-reported interest plus situational understanding. In support of construction–integration theory, the highest interest and understanding scores occurred when the linear (narrative) text structure was read with linear links. Surprisingly, interest and understanding scores placed second for matched nonlinear text and nonlinear links. Mismatched text and links for either condition consistently resulted in poor understanding. Keywords health communication, information acquisition, science journalism, public understanding of science, technology