Breadcrumb Navigation: Further Investigation of Usage
http://www.surl.org/usabilitynews/52/breadcrumb.asp

Rogers, Bonnie Lida and Barbara Chaparro
Usability News
2003

Abstract:

There has been speculation that a breadcrumb trail also aids the user's 'mental model' of the site's layout to reduce disorientation within the site (Bernard, 2003); however, we have not found research to validate this assumption. It would seem logical, however, that a constant visualization of the path to the user's current location would increase their awareness and knowledge of the site structure.