Discussion of information retrieval on the Web focuses on a study that is the result of ten replications of the 1996 Ding and Marchionini Web search tool research. Explores effects that replication can have on transforming unreliable results from one iteration into replicable and therefore reliable results following multiple iterations.…

Describes SWEAR (Systematic Weighting and Ranking), a powers-of-two algorithm that can be used for searching the World Wide Web or any large database that automatically creates discrete, well-defined result sets and displays them in decreasing order of likely relevance. Also discusses fuzzy sets. (Author/LRW)

Investigates information retrieval from hypertext on the World Wide Web. Significant main and interaction effects were found for both link density (number of links per display) and display format (paragraphs or lists) on search performance. Low link densities displayed in list format produced the best overall results. Expert browsers performed…

Discusses indexing in large text databases, approximate text searching, and space-time tradeoffs for indexed text searching. Studies the space overhead and retrieval times as functions of the text block size, concludes that an index can be sublinear in space overhead and query time, and applies the analysis to the Web. (Author/LRW)

Discusses information-seeking strategies in information retrieval systems, including Web search engines, and focuses on an in-depth investigation of shifts in the micro-level of user goals, namely interactive intention and information-seeking strategies. Discusses implications of the results for the design of adaptive information retrieval…

Discusses access to digital libraries on the World Wide Web via Web browsers and describes the design of a language-independent document classification system to help users of the Florida Center for Library Automation analyze search query results. Highlights include similarity scores, clustering, graphical representation of document similarity,…

Describes a study conducted in the Netherlands that examined the effect of a user's World Wide Web experience on the search process, which consists of locating an appropriate Web site and retrieving relevant information from that site. Discusses implications for training and supporting student searchers and proposes future research. (Author/LRW)

Discusses intelligent user interfaces, through which a user may query for information; explains the different types of intelligent online search assistants, or agents, which are used to support these interfaces. Describes several different agent systems. Concludes by discussing the current state of agents in information retrieval, especially as…

Examines whether the results obtained from a specific bibliographic search can be applied to a real search environment and enhance the level of utility of an information retrieval session for all levels of users. Focuses on a Web-based Bibliometric Information Retrieval System (BIRS), designed with facilities to assist users in getting a better…

Describes a fully automated approach for indexing documents that is based on associating textwords in a training set of bibliographic citations with the indexing of journals. Discusses the use of journal descriptors (JDs) in the MEDLINE database that could also be used to search other journal articles, monographs, and Web documents. (Author/LRW)

Discusses the implementation of a cartographic user interface to bibliographic and other information sub-spaces in astronomy. Presents a range of comparative assessments, in operational frameworks, of this approach to accessing and retrieving astronomical information. Discusses the particular role that such cartographic user interfaces can play in…

Describes a study that investigated the effects of cognitive style (field dependent and field independent) and online database search experience (novice and experienced) on undergraduate World Wide Web search performance. Considers user factors to predict search efficiency and discusses implications for Web interface design and user training…

This study tested two Web personal spiders (i.e., agents that take users' requests and perform real-time customized searches) based on best first-search and genetic-algorithm techniques. Both results were comparable and complementary, although the genetic algorithm obtained higher recall value. The Java-based interface was found to be necessary…

Analyzes Web-searching behavior for homework assignments of high school students through field observations in class and at the computer terminal with students thinking aloud, and through interviews with various participants. Results emphasize the need for training and for system design based on user seeking and search behavior. (Author/LRW)

Reports on a research project that investigated seventh grade science students' cognitive, affective, and physical behaviors as they used the Yahooligans! search engine to find information on a specific search task. Describes measurement techniques that included software, interviews, and questionnaires, and discusses implications for user training…