Search (56 results, page 1 of 3)

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Abstract

Describes the technique used to study hypertext systems from a very general point of view, focus on monitoring searchers' behaviour, predict the estimation of the ultimate goals of the searchers, and estimate the searchers' determination to find these goals. The components are combined via a Markov chain approach so as to study information retrieval in general and hypertext (hypermedia) in particular. Demonstrates how these estimations can be used to assist searchers during their searching process and presents the derivation of a relevance function for documents, based on these estimations

Source

Information retrieval: new systems and current research. Proceedings of the 16th Research Colloquium of the British Computer Society Information Retrieval Specialist Group, Drymen, Scotland, 22-23 Mar 94. Ed.: R. Leon

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Abstract

Over the last 4 years, the Information Interaction Laboratory at Rutgers' School of communication, Information and Library Studies has performed a series of investigations concerned with various aspects of people's interactions with advanced information retrieval (IR) systems. We have benn especially concerned with understanding not just what people do, and why, and with what effect, but also with what they would like to do, and how they attempt to accomplish it, and with what difficulties. These investigations have led to some quite interesting conclusions about the nature and structure of people's interactions with information, about support for cooperative human-computer interaction in query reformulation, and about the value of visualization of search results for supporting various forms of interaction with information. In this discussion, I give an overview of the research program and its projects, present representative results from the projects, and discuss some implications of these results for support of subject searching in information retrieval systems

Date

22. 9.1997 19:16:05

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Abstract

In information needs, seeking and use (INSU) research, individuals have most commonly been perceived as users (e.g., Kuhlthau, 1991; Dervin & Nilan, 1986; Dervin, 1989; Belkin, 1980). The concept user originates from the user of libraries and other information services and information systems. Over the years the scope of the concept has become wider and it is nowadays often understood in the sense of seekers of information (e.g., Wilson, 1981; Marchionini, 1995) and users of information (e.g., Streatfield, 1983). Nevertheless, the concept has remained ambiguous by being on the one hand universal and on the other hand extremely specific. The purpose of this paper is to map and evaluate views on people whose information behaviour has been in one way or another the core of our research area. The goal is to shed some light on various relationships between the different aspects of doers in INSU studies. The paper is inspired by Dervin's (1997) analysis of context where she identified among other themes the nature of subject by contrasting a `transcendental individual' with a `decentered subject', and Talja's (1997) presentation about constituting `information' and `user' from the discourse analytic viewpoint as opposed to the cognitive viewpoint. Instead of the metatheoretical approach applied by Dervin and Talja, a more concrete approach is valid in the present analysis where no direct arguments for or against the underlying metatheories are itemised. The focus is on doers in INSU studies leaving other, even closely-related concepts (i.e., information, information seeking, knowledge etc.), outside the scope of the paper.

Date

22. 3.2002 9:55:52

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Abstract

Describes the creation and results of a questionnaire survey of cataloguers in 6 Singapore academic and national libraries and of their vendor helpdesk staff to evaluate the help systems of library automation systems, with particular emphasis on the cataloguing function. Describes the structure of the questionnaire; the methodology used to analyse the data; the profile of the respondents and the systems used by them; and the implications of the statistical results. Functionalities for the following help features were surveyed: getting in and out of the help systems; selecting a relevant topic; formulating queries; searching of information; completeness and comprehensiveness of the help system; navigation to other topics; applying information to solve problems; and data entry and authority control in cataloguing tasks. Data analysis identified 27 preferred features which could be taken into account in the product development of online help systems

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Abstract

Reports results of a questionnaire survey of the user characteristics of Korean student user groups in searching OPACs. The study examined the use of 5 selected OPAC systems in 5 academic libraries in the Austin, Texas and North Texas areas. The objective was to provide information on the characteristics of a specific group of international college students from a developing country in order to assist system managers in the selection of OPAC systems. The major conclusions of this study were: the academic level and age of students affect the preference towards an OPAC, but academic major of the students does not affect the preference; system designers should prepare more specific instructions regarding searching methods; there is a negative relationship between the number of searching methods that the respondents knew in using OPACs and the frequency of manual card catalogue use; and menu driven systems should be the first selection of OPAC systems for Korean students. Proposes recommendations for the design, adoption, or management of a new OPAC system

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Abstract

Examines some of the theories that have evolved to explain the mental processes required for the use of information systems. Categorizes research in this area into system oriented and user oriented studies and reviews this research. Describes a sample of methodologies used for examining users and their information seeking behaviour. Concludes with a discussion of the implications of these theories and methods for librarians and information specialists

Footnote

Part of an issue devoted to electronic resources and their use in libraries, from the viewpoint of reference services, with an emphasis on the Internet and Geographic Information Systems

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Abstract

Explores the variety of user behaviour exhibited by users of information retrieval systems over time and the effort of differences between expert and novice searchers on an understanding of information searching dynamics and on the design of information systems. Based on a naturalistic case study. Points out some of the dynamic patterns of behaviour of children's use of online catalogues (OPACs)

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Abstract

Examines the development of OPACs of the last 15 years, and how this has promoted the use of automated information retrieval systems. Using the technique of search path maps, investigates how end users use the system available to them and the type of subject searches they carry out. Compares 2 techniques for mapping searches, concluding that there is need for effective diagnosis and monitoring methods, and that an efficient method of analysis of end user use is essential

Source

OCLC systems and services. 12(1996) no.2, S.27-34

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Abstract

Observes that whether in academic, special, or public libraries or on commercial online systems, CD-ROM, the online catalogue, or the Internet, certain end user errors crop up repeatedly. Details the main errors, which include input errors, errors arising from confusion in the face of different interfaces and screen designs, Boolean logic errors, term errors, conceptual errors, and errors due to the fact that users do not read instructions. Concludes that systems must solve the trivial errors automatically, but user instruction librarians must help solve the more complex problems

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Abstract

Provides information on the characteristics of 5 online catalogue systems in 5 academic libraries in the austin, Texas and North Texas, USA, and their use by Korean students at University of North Texas, USA, in order to assist system managers in the selection of online catalogues. Proposes recommendations when designing, adopting, or managing a new online catalogue system. Topics for further studies on the characteristics of online systems and their use are also suggested

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Abstract

Presents a state of the art review of the underlying theories of and analysis methods used to study the ways in which users (end users) receive and interpret information through information retrieval systems and looks at the potential for refining theories and adopting new analysis methods. Focuses on approaches that advocate the user centred perspective, including: the cognitive approach; and the holistic approach. Identifies and summarizes the significant studies and ideas since 1986 that are represented by these approaches and looks toward the design of more effective systems that are user oriented and incorporate features such as filtering that would provide retrieval results based on individual or group preferences. Concludes that systems designed from the user centred perspective would not only serve the intended audience but would further the user centred perspective of the entire information retrieval discipline

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Abstract

Intellectual access to a growing number of networked image repositories is but a small part of the much larger problem of intellectual access to new information formats. As more and more information becomes available in digital formats, it is imperative that we understand how people retrieve and use images. Several studies have investigated how users search for images, but there are few evaluation studies of image retrieval systems. Preliminary findings from research in progress indicate a need for improved browsing tools, image manipulation software, feedback mechanisms, and query analysis. Comparisons are made to previous research results from a study of intellectual access to digital art images. This discussion will focus on the problems of image retrieval identified in current research projects, report on an evaluation project in process, and propose a framework for evaluation studies of image retrieval systems that emphasizes the role of user feedback.

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Date

29. 7.1998 10:57:22

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Date

22. 5.1999 19:07:29

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Abstract

This article discusses the major catalog use studies that have been conducted in the United States and Great Britain. The potential to influence the construction of new online public access catalogs is emphasized. The cumulative findings could serve as an information base which designers of OPAC systems could refer to in the course of their work

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Abstract

Reports on the factor analysis of affective data gathered from a study of searching behaviour in 2 library catalogues. 20 subjects were assigned information problems to solve through searching a university card catalogue and 20 were assigned the same problems to solve in a comparable online catalogue. After searches were completed, subjects were asked to evaluate their search results and to respond to attitude measures about the search experience. The 11 attitude itmes were constructed to tap a variety of affective responses to the attitude measures. Factor patterns in the data can serve to identify the dimensions on which search experiences are evaluated by users, to direct further investigation into user evaluations, and to suggest features for inclusion in information retrieval systems accessed directly by users

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Source

International cataloguing and bibliographic control. 22(1993) no.4, S.68-71

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Source

Canadian journal of information and library science. 19(1994) no.4, S.1-22

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Source

BibliotheekBlad. 1(1997) no.21, S.22-23

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Abstract

Searching information retrieval systems is a highly interactive, iterative process that cannot be understood simply by comparing the output of a search session (the 'search product') to a query stated in advance. In this article, we examine evaluation goals and methods for studying information retrieval behavior, drawing examples from our own research and that of others. We limit our review to research that employs online monitoring, also known as transaction log analysis. Online monitoring is one of few methods that can capture detailed data on the search process at a reasonable cost; these data can be used to build quantitative models or to support qualitative interpretations of quatitative results. Monitoring is a data collection technique rather than a research design, and can be employed in experimental of field studies, whether alone or combined with other data collection methods. Based on the the research questions of interest, the researcher must determine what variables to collect from each data source, which to treat as independent varaibles to manipulate, and which to treat as dependent variables to observe effects. Studies of searching behavior often treat search task and searcher characteristics as independent variables and may manipulate other independent variables specific to the research questions addressed. Search outcomes, time, and search paths frequently are treated as dependent variables. We discuss each of these sets of variables, illustrating them with sample results from the literature and from our own research. Our examples are drawn from the Science Library Catalog project, a 7-year study of children's searching behavior on an experimental retrieval system. We close with a brief discussion of the implications of these results for the design of information retrieval systems