Assesses the promotion and development of online information retrieval in China. Highlights include opening of the first online retrieval center at China Overseas Building Development Company Limited; establishment and activities of a cooperative network; online retrieval seminars; telecommunication lines and terminal installations; and problems…

Analytical methods for facilitating comparison of multiple sets during online searching are illustrated by description of specific searching methods that eliminate duplicate citations and a factoring procedure based on syntactic relationships that establishes ranked sets. Searches executed in National Center for Mental Health database on…

Compares features of selective dissemination of information service in information retrieval systems Quest and Orbit with those of smaller noncommercial system, George 3. Construction of profiles, editing during construction, and editing of stored profiles are noted. Examples of method of constructing and editing a profile in George 3 are…

Forty-two searchers with varying degrees of experience in searching online bibliographic retrieval systems queried the ERIC database using DIALOG. The results were measured with variables which related to the search outcome (cost effectiveness, precision, and recall) and the search process. (JJD)

Discussion of electronic information products for the humanities focuses on users in Italy. Databases are discussed; a user survey of La Sapienza University Arts Faculty is described; an example of research using two databases, FRANCIS and Philosopher's Index, is given; and Italian products and projects for the humanities are reviewed. (15…

Describes various modifications of query formulations, or moves, made by experienced online searchers to improve search results. Operational moves that modify query formulation while keeping meaning of query components unchanged and conceptual moves that change meaning of query components are described; all moves are then related to search tactics…

This paper reviews the history of separate online system interfaces which led to efforts to develop expert systems for searching databases, particularly for end users, and introduces the research on such expert systems. Appended is a bibliography of sources on interfaces and expert systems for online retrieval. (Author/EJS)

This annual update of a bibliography that was published as a supplement to the first issue of "Online Review" contains 931 references covering the approximate time period of late 1982 through early 1984. Entries are arranged by author within each of 11 sections. Permuted title and author indexes are included. (EJS)

Provides permuted title and author indexes to the 931-item seventh annual update (July 1984 issue of "Online Review") of a bibliography on online information retrieval which was published as a supplement to the first issue of "Online Review." The approximate time period of late 1982 through early 1984 is covered. (EJS)

Describes a two-phase stemming algorithm which consists of word root identification and automatic selection of word variants starting with same word root from inverted file. Use of algorithm in book catalog file is discussed. Ten references and example of subject search are appended. (EJS)

Reviews 12 different methods of information retrieval for the reduction of a large set by removal of irrelevant or unwanted elements, including logic revision (use of "and" and "not" logic, classification codes, limit commands, field restriction), concept revision, and terminology revision. Examples for each option are given.…

Describes audio and digital recording devices, computer-assisted instructional systems, audiovisual aids, and viewdata systems used by British library schools in the instruction of online searching. Twenty-eight references are cited. (FM)

Describes a survey of online searchers in Australia that examined their educational background, organizational settings, experience, attitudes toward online searching, search behaviors, styles of searching, and perceived requester satisfaction. It is concluded that Australian searchers support preplanning, online interaction, and relevance checks;…

Describes a study in which users of an academic library search service completed online search request forms which asked open, bibliographic, and structural questions. The discussion covers the effect of the type of question asked on the amount of information elicited from users, searcher behavior, and the relevance of search results. (17…

The Drug-Interface, prototype system built to facilitate retrieval of drug related information, automatically connects to DIALOG Information Retrieval Service via available networks, aids user in formulating and/or revising search strategy, sends query to DIALOG, displays results of search, and downloads relevant pieces into Macintosh data file.…