This study was undertaken to test the effectiveness of a computer-assisted tutorial (CAI) program in teaching the novice and transient user the procedures for conducting a search on The New York Times Information Bank. A two-part experiment was designed to compare the relative effectiveness of the CAI program and the printed instructions…

Describes and reports results of a project which used computer assisted instruction to teach public library users to search online databases directly. Tables of data provide information on the study participants; their reactions to the instruction both before and after a search session; and their attitudes toward paying for searches. (CLB)

Discusses the use of databases for research by undergraduates in the standard freshman research paper course. Explains how students were introduced to database operations and uses. Discusses some perceived problems and enumerates benefits of this program. (AEM)

Three articles describe a series of observations and experiments that examined the user context of questions in information retrieval, the structure and classification of questions, cognitive traits and decision-making searchers, and different searches of the same question. (71 references) (Author/CLB)

Shows that native-speaking Arabic readers produce search functions that are radically different from the search functions of readers whose script uses the Roman alphabet (RAs). The processes used by Arabic readers are more akin to the processes used by RAs when searching arrays of shapes. (Author/LMO)

Discusses the need to teach undergraduate students the critical thinking processes necessary to formulating and researching a topic, rather than the technicalities of online catalogs. The development and design of an online catalog at Dickinson College, which forces students to make informed choices throughout the search process, is described.…

The use of locally produced dissertations by extramural scholars was examined in four Ohio academic libraries. The results include identification of users by type of institution; purpose for which the dissertations were used; and tools and approaches successfully used in identifying and locating the desired dissertations. (CLB)

Critiques the InfoTrac system and its use in academic libraries in terms of journals covered by the index; indexing accuracy; ease of use and need for instruction; and effects on the research skills of students relying on the system. (CLB)

Presents a methodology for describing, analyzing, and evaluating the public service functions of serial file systems, and describes a user study conducted in a university departmental library to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of its system in enabling students new to the library to locate known-items in the serials collection. (CDD)

This paper describes an experiment in the use of Dewey Decimal Classification in online catalogs to introduce classed approach to subject searching of library collections, enhance subject terminology indexed in online catalog, and provide possibilities for search strategies not possible through alphabetical approach of subject headings and/or…

Proposes a "Model of Querying" for users of office filing facilities and discusses its motivation, aspects, attributes, and advantages. A review of current information systems and attempts to combine information retrieval, artificial intelligence, and database management techniques leads to conclusion that no resultant system is adequate…

Evaluates and compares two recently proposed automatic methods for relevance feedback of Boolean queries (Dillon method, which uses probabilistic approach as basis, and disjunctive normal form method). Conclusions are drawn concerning the use of effective feedback methods in a Boolean query environment. Nineteen references are included. (EJS)

The DR-LINK (Document Retrieval through Linguist Knowledge) search system was created to help automate the process that research librarians use to convert information needs, as stated by users, into the information retrieval process. DR-LINK resulted from participation in the United States Government initiative called Tipster that was sponsored by…

Competitor information gathering is a key aspect of business planning. Information can be collected from either published or unpublished sources. Unpublished information will often be verified based on material from published sources. Published information is more likely to be factual and includes financial, stockmarket, press, market and…

This document contains the following full and short papers on humanities and learning technology from ICCE/ICCAI 2000 (International Conference on Computers in Education/International Conference on Computer-Assisted Instruction): (1) "A Web-Based EFL Writing Environment: Integrating Information for Learners, Teachers, and Researchers"…