Search (15 results, page 1 of 1)

  • × year_i:[1990 TO 2000}
  • × author_ss:"Ford, N."
  1. Ford, N.: Towards the evidence-based electronic library (1997) 0.03
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    Source
    Electronic library and visual information research: Proceedings of the 4th ELVIRA Conference (ELVIRA 4), Electronic Library and Visual Information Research, De Montfort University, Milton Keynes, May 1997. Ed. by C. Davies u. A. Ramsden
    Type
    a
  2. Ford, N.; Wood, F.: User modelling for the electronic library : a cognitive approach (1995) 0.03
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    Abstract
    Reports on 4 experiments conducted at Sheffield University, Department of Information Studies, UK, into cognitive models which illuminate how people learn using electronic media. The experiments dealt with: learning strategies in an unconstrained electronic environment, in a hypertext environment, and in database searching, and matching and mismatching learning styles. Discusses the positive or negative implications for the design of electronic learning materials suggested by these experiments
    Source
    Electronic library and visual information research: Proceedings of the First ELVIRA Conference (ELVIRA 1), Electronic Library and Visual Information Research, De Montfort University, Milton Keynes, May 1994. Ed. by M. Collier u, K. Arnold
    Type
    a
  3. Ford, N.: ¬The growth of understanding in information science : towards a developmental model (1999) 0.03
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    Date
    17. 1.2000 13:16:22
    Type
    a
  4. Ford, N.; Lloyd-Williams, M.; Morris, C.: Intelligent adaptive systems for information delivery in the electronic library (1995) 0.02
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    Abstract
    Proposes the development of an 'intelligent document' as a key component of the future electronic library; in which the intelligent documents in a library collection may be thought of as the ability of documents or a collection of documents to adapt to differing characteristics of individual information seekers and users. Proposes the sort of intelligent document that could: identify particular learning strategies being used by individual users; classify them in terms of a model of learning capable of making explicit relationships between strategies, individual differences, learning tasks, and learning outcomes; and offer, on the basis of this model, individualized strategic advice (or take individualized strategic action) relating to how the user might most productively go forward. Describes results obtained during the study, conducted at the Department of Information Studies, Sheffield University, UK, involving PRECIS documents, fuzzy data analysis and artificial neural networks
    Source
    Electronic library and visual information research: Proceedings of the Second ELVIRA Conference (ELVIRA 2), Electronic Library and Visual Information Research, De Montfort University, Milton Keynes, May 1995. Ed. by M. Collier u, K. Arnold
    Type
    a
  5. Wood, F.; Ford, N.; Miller, D.; Sobczyk, G.; Duffin, R.: Information skills, searching behaviour and cognitive styles for student-centred learning : a computer-assisted learning approach (1996) 0.02
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    Abstract
    Undergraduates were tested to establish how they searched databases, the effectiveness of their searches and their satisfaction with them. The students' cognitive and learning styles were determined by the Lancaster Approaches to Studying Inventory and Riding's Cognitive Styles Analysis tests. There were significant differences in the searching behaviour and the effectiveness of the searches carried out by students with different learning and cognitive styles. Computer-assisted learning (CAL) packages were developed for three departments. The effectiveness of the packages were evaluated. Significant differences were found in the ways students with different learning styles used the packages. Based on the experience gained, guidelines for the teaching of information skills and the production and use of packages were prepared. About 2/3 of the searches had serious weaknesses, indicating a need for effective training. It appears that choice of searching strategies, search effectiveness and use of CAL packages are all affected by the cognitive and learning styles of the searcher. Therefore, students should be made aware of their own styles and, if appropriate, how to adopt more effective strategies
    Source
    Journal of information science. 22(1996) no.2, S.79-92
    Type
    a
  6. Ford, N.: Developing an automated extensible reference service (1997) 0.00
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    Abstract
    Reports results of a project to develop guidelines, based on the development of a prototype system in the field of medicine, for producing computerized reference services capable of increasing the range and quality of responses to information needs. For instance, an automatic system that can be available 24 hours a day simultaneously to multiple enquirers over an intranet or the Internet. Genuine information requests from a variety of medical information settings were collected and analyzed to form a typology of needs, focusing particularly on qualitative aspects. The typology was mapped on to computerized techniques to form a system specification and developed into a prototype WWW system
  7. Ford, N.; Ford, R.: Towards a cognitive theory of information accessing : an empirical study (1993) 0.00
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    Abstract
    Reports on a project which aimed to simulate querying of an ideal system which could respond to any kind of questioning phrased in any way. 30 users accessed a system the knowledge base of which (unknown to them) included 2 human experts. The interactions between users and the system were logged and analyzed. The results reveal different information accessing strategies linked to individual user characteristics and retrieval effectiveness. Discusses implication for the design of improved information retrieval systems
    Type
    a
  8. Ford, N.; Ford, R.: Cognitive styles and database access (1992) 0.00
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    Abstract
    Describes an experiment conducted with 30 post graduate information science and librarianship students to discover how they might go about learning from an ideal database. A system was created which preserved the characteristics of a computer based environment, yet which freed itself from the constraints of current technology. The students were, in fact, interacting via computer screen with 2 human expert backed up with appropriate computer files and documentation. Results suggest a number of different information accessing strategies linked to relatively successful and less successful retrieval. Discusses the implications of the results for the design of computerized information retrieval systems
    Type
    a
  9. Caregnato, S.; Ford, N.; Loughridge, B.: Expert systems support for subject librarians or subject specialists in academic libraries (1994) 0.00
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    Type
    a
  10. Ford, N.: Information retrieval and creativity : towards support for the original thinker (1999) 0.00
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    Abstract
    This is a speculative paper in which the requirements of IR systems to support relatively creative, as well as more convergent thinking are discussed. The nature of creative thinking is explored, as is the extent to which a range of current information systems is able to support key intellectual processes associated with it. The development of IR systems capable of providing more direct support for creative thinking will depend on the greater integration of high order knowledge representations and flexible, fuzzy pattern-matching techniques. Such developments may enhance the ability of information seekers to place before themselves a range of information sufficiently - but not excessively - rich in diversity to facilitate the development of relatively divergent - as well as more convergent - ideas.
    Type
    a
  11. Spink, A.; Wilson, T.; Ellis, D.; Ford, N.: Modeling users' successive searches in digital environments : a National Science Foundation/British Library funded study (1998) 0.00
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    Abstract
    As digital libraries become a major source of information for many people, we need to know more about how people seek and retrieve information in digital environments. Quite commonly, users with a problem-at-hand and associated question-in-mind repeatedly search a literature for answers, and seek information in stages over extended periods from a variety of digital information resources. The process of repeatedly searching over time in relation to a specific, but possibly an evolving information problem (including changes or shifts in a variety of variables), is called the successive search phenomenon. The study outlined in this paper is currently investigating this new and little explored line of inquiry for information retrieval, Web searching, and digital libraries. The purpose of the research project is to investigate the nature, manifestations, and behavior of successive searching by users in digital environments, and to derive criteria for use in the design of information retrieval interfaces and systems supporting successive searching behavior. This study includes two related projects. The first project is based in the School of Library and Information Sciences at the University of North Texas and is funded by a National Science Foundation POWRE Grant <http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/show?award=9753277>. The second project is based at the Department of Information Studies at the University of Sheffield (UK) and is funded by a grant from the British Library <http://www.shef. ac.uk/~is/research/imrg/uncerty.html> Research and Innovation Center. The broad objectives of each project are to examine the nature and extent of successive search episodes in digital environments by real users over time. The specific aim of the current project is twofold: * To characterize progressive changes and shifts that occur in: user situational context; user information problem; uncertainty reduction; user cognitive styles; cognitive and affective states of the user, and consequently in their queries; and * To characterize related changes over time in the type and use of information resources and search strategies particularly related to given capabilities of IR systems, and IR search engines, and examine changes in users' relevance judgments and criteria, and characterize their differences. The study is an observational, longitudinal data collection in the U.S. and U.K. Three questionnaires are used to collect data: reference, client post search and searcher post search questionnaires. Each successive search episode with a search intermediary for textual materials on the DIALOG Information Service is audiotaped and search transaction logs are recorded. Quantitative analysis includes statistical analysis using Likert scale data from the questionnaires and log-linear analysis of sequential data. Qualitative methods include: content analysis, structuring taxonomies; and diagrams to describe shifts and transitions within and between each search episode. Outcomes of the study are the development of appropriate model(s) for IR interactions in successive search episodes and the derivation of a set of design criteria for interfaces and systems supporting successive searching.
    Type
    a
  12. Ellis, D.; Ford, N.; Furner, J.: In search of the unknown user : indexing, hypertext and the World Wide Web (1998) 0.00
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    Abstract
    For the purposes of this article, the indexing of information is interpreted as the pre-processing of information in order to enable its retrieval. The definition thus spans a dimension extending from classification-based approaches (pre-co-ordinate) to keyword searching (post-co-ordinate). In the first section we clarify our use of terminology, by briefly describing a framework for modelling IR systems in terms of sets of objects, relationships and functions. In the following 3 sections, we discuss the application of indexing functions to document collections of 3 specific types: (1) 'conventional' text databases; (2) hypertext databases; and (3) the World Wide Web, globally distributed across the Internet
    Type
    a
  13. Ford, N.: Expert systems and artificial intelligence : an information manager's guide (1991) 0.00
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    Abstract
    A guide to database management, online searching, text retrieval, data analysis, intelligent documents and more ...
  14. Ford, N.; Wood, F.; Walsh, C.: Cognitive styles and searching (1994) 0.00
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    Abstract
    The primary aim of the study was to investigate the effect of the absence of postings information on online searches and searching behaviour and these results were reported in Journal of information science 20(1994) no.1. The secondary aim, reported here, was to assess the cognitive styles of the participants to ensure that the population was sufficiently vareid in this respect and to investigate possible correlations between cognitive ability and searching behaviour. Throughout the project, searches were made by postgraduates at the department of information studies, University of Sheffield using the LISA database on CD-ROM. A total of 67 searchers carried out 275 searches, both with and without postings information. Reports significant differences in both searching behaviour and search outcomes obtained by those with different learning styles, with and without postings information. Significant correlations were found between cognitice styles and online searching. Searchers characterized by different learning styles tend to adopt different search strategies and strategies associated with comprehension and operation learning styles result in qualitatively different searching performance. Searching approaches associated with a versatile style are the most effective. Making feedback in the form of postings available enables comprehension and operation learners, and field independent searchers, to change their apporach in qualitatively different ways. Other findings are reported and discussed
    Type
    a
  15. Wood, F.; Ford, N.; Walsh, C.: ¬The effect of postings information on search behaviour (1994) 0.00
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    Abstract
    How postings information is used for inverted file searching was investigated by comparing searches, made by postgraduate students at the Dept. of Information Studies, of the LISA database on CD-ROM with and without postings information. Performance (the number of relevant references, precision and recall) was not significantly different but searches with postings information took more time, and more sets were viewed, than in searches without postings. Postings information was used to make decisions to narrow or broaden the search; to view or print the references. The same techniques were used to amend searches whether or not postings information was available. Users decided that a search was satisfactory on the basis of the search results, and consequently many searches done without postings were still considered satisfactory. However, searchers thought that the lack of postings information had affected 90% of their searches. Differences in search performance and searching behaviour were found in participants who were shown to have different learning styles using the Witkin's Embedded Figures test and the Lancaster Short Inventory of Approaches to Learning Test. These differences were, in part, explained by the differences in behaviour indicated by their learning styles
    Type
    a