Describes a study that investigated the information-seeking behavior of users searching a card catalog and a comparable online catalog. The purpose was to explore whether a theory of human remembering, retrieval by reformulation, might be useful in explaining search behavior in bibliographic databases. (61 references) (CLB)

A series of study guides, which were developed to assist students in improving study and library skills, is reproduced for teachers' use. The guides cover test-taking skills; writing business letters; selecting a writing topic; plagiarism; developing search strategies; documentation; and locating dictionaries, periodical articles, books,…

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…

College students were trained to do online searching in a mandatory research paper course. Bibliographies from student papers, search transcripts, questionnaires administered to students, the library's serials holdings, and interviews with instructors and librarians provided data for analyses of students' database and library searches and the…

Describes important resources for discovering sites for communication research related to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), to help identify appropriate companies and contact them. (SR)

Discusses the idea of including information about the MARC format in library online catalog instruction. Difficulties that users encounter when using different online catalogs with different formats are discussed, and a presentation developed at the University of California at Berkeley to explain the MARC format to users is described. (three…

Describes OASIS, a prototype adaptive online catalog implemented as a front end to the University of California MELVYL catalog. Topics addressed include the concept of adaptive retrieval systems, strategic search commands, feedback, prototyping using a front-end, the problem of excessive retrieval, commands to limit or increase search results, and…

An analysis of 100 online public access catalog (OPAC) search sessions explored the effectiveness of converting unsuccessful subject searches to keyword searches. It is suggested that either a system generated message to the user to try a keyword search, or an automatic conversion of zero-hit searches might be effective in improving search…

Describes how St. Mary's University Academic Library (San Antonio, Texas) sought to avoid end-user "CD-ROM information overload." The resulting CD-ROM user instruction strategy, and the library's long-range plans, are profiled. (MAB)

Discusses a survey undertaken in 1992 to gauge general user response to the online catalog used at a large state university library. A description of the library and its automated system (based on Geac/ADVANCE integrated software), the study methodology, and results are covered. A copy of the two-page survey is appended. (Contains five…

Describes a study that investigated whether academic library patrons searching Agricola on CD-ROM would be willing to use an online updating system to obtain more current citations, the level of user satisfaction with the updating system, and the cost involved in making such a system available to all patrons searching Agricola on CD-ROM. (Four…

Describes a study of college freshmen that investigated the effects of navigation maps on search performance, browsing behavior, and cognitive map development within hierarchical-structured hypertext courseware. Results of analysis of variance indicate that map type significantly affected search performance and browsing behavior. (Author/LRW)

Describes results from two independent investigations of college students that were conducted to study the impact of differences in users' cognition and search tasks on Web search activities and outcomes. Topics include cognitive style; problem-solving; and implications for the design and use of the Web and Web search engines. (Author/LRW)

Describes an information literacy skills assessment project by California State University as part of an accountability process. Highlights include information competence; a qualitative study using information scenarios; capturing what students do when they search for information; and ethnographic data. (LRW)

Describes a longitudinal study of four sets of OPAC (online public access catalog) transaction logs that examined the effects of screen changes in helping searchers improve their search behavior. Results show that while screen changes initially had a positive impact on search behavior, they were not always sustained over time. (Author/LRW)