Argues that there are two flaws in Byrne's research design which indicates that Australian journal literature is not adequately represented in international databases: mixing of analysis levels and the implied assumption that a database that doesn't cover large numbers of journals published in a country has "lost" that country's…

This issues paper, fifth in a series of eight, is intended to distill formative evaluation questions on topics that are central to the development of the higher and further education information environment in the United Kingdom. The term "portal" is so widely used by so many people with so many different perspectives that definition is…

This paper studies the influence of question-related variables (closed/open and predictable/unpredictable) on a Web user's choice of search strategy in the initial stage of a search. Search strategies considered include direct address, subject directory, and search engine. Objectives were to determine the adaptiveness of Web users in choosing an…

This comprehensive review of databanks and CD-ROMs worldwide dealing with patents, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, and related legal opinions includes comments on database coverage and search features. Comparison tables of vendors' products are provided. (22 references) (EA)

This study examined the connection between personality traits (extraversion, conscientiousness, openness) and two strategies for job search: networking (family, friends, etc.) and general search (want ads, employment agencies), making use of Costa and McCrae's five-factor model of personality dimensions. The relations between the two strategies…

This report discusses the use of the Science Citation Index produced by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) as a given "expert system" in the experimental study of different search levels. The inquiry has two objectives: (1) to test whether a "traditional" information system will also produce the rudiments of a…

This report describes a real-time simulation experiment to evaluate the performance of the search and editing system 3RIP, an interactive system written in the language BLISS on a DEC-10 computer. The test vehicle, preliminary test runs, and capacity test are detailed, and the following conclusions are reported: (1) 3RIP performs well up to the…

Compares features of online public access catalogs (OPACs) at six British universities: (1) Cambridge; (2) Hull; (3) Newcastle; (4) Surrey; (5) Sussex; and (6) York. Results of keyword subject searches on two topics performed on each of the OPACs are reported and compared. Six references are listed. (MES)

Provides a detailed description of the microcomputer hardware and software used by the Euronet-Diane Launch Team for automating a number of functions associated with online searching. Background, login procedures, program architecture, maintenance problems, comments on lessons learned, and suggestions for avoiding difficulties with this type of…

Describes the development and evaluation of a new classification system for fiction which is based on an analysis of users' formulations of needs. Problems of concept identification (author's intention, citation order, vocabulary control, and choice of access terms) are highlighted. Examples of questions used in retrieval tests and 20 references…

Reviews overall publication scheme of authoritative version of federal statutes as issued by Queen's Printer of Canada to enable librarians to catalog and shelve materials in formal sequence. Characteristics of revision and sessional volumes and official lists and indexes used as finding aids for acts are examined. Gives six references. (EJS)

This issues paper, the fourth in a series of eight, is intended to distill formative evaluation questions on topics that are central to the development of the higher and further education information environment in the United Kingdom. As the online environment becomes a feature of teaching and learning, it offers lecturers the opportunity to…

Discusses the results of a survey sent to online searchers in four countries, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and Canada, to investigate the influence of national culture on information retrieval skills. The survey form provided a sample question and asked searchers to prepare a preliminary search strategy in Sociological…

Discusses the importance of British databases and information services to U.S. business searchers and describes several British databases and services. Topics covered include database contents, available search strategies, access from the United States, language differences, and dating problems. A directory of contacts is provided. (six…

Compares search effectiveness when using query-based Internet search via the Google search engine, directory-based search via Yahoo, and phrase-based query reformulation-assisted search via the Hyperindex browser by means of a controlled, user-based experimental study of undergraduates at the University of Queensland. Discusses cognitive load,…