Web resources allow a learner to have more opportunities for study at any time and any place. It is still difficult, however, for learners to choose the right study materials to match their desired learning. A competence-based system for recommending study materials from the Web (COSREW) is proposed, based on the learner's competences. COSREW…

The main purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between Chinese higher education students' epistemic beliefs and their judgmental standards of searching for literature online. Data were collected from 449 higher education students (152 college students and 297 graduate students) in Beijing via two self-reported questionnaires: one…

Participatory research aims to increase the relevance and broaden the implementation of health research by involving those affected by the outcomes of health studies. Few studies within the field of neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly autism spectrum disorders, have involved autistic individuals as partners. This study sought to identify…

The article proposes a self-study system which suggests web links to learners. The suggestions depend upon the learner's chosen competences selected from a competence structure for a particular knowledge domain. Three experiments were conducted, where the first compared the perceived usefulness and value of the links generated by different…

The purpose of this study is to examine exemplary science teachers' level of computer use, their knowledge/skills in using specific computer applications for science instruction, their use of computer-related applications/tools during their instruction, how often they required their students to use those applications in or for their science class…

Describes a study conducted at Oregon Health Sciences University that compared the use of three retrieval systems by medical students: a Boolean system, a word-based natural language system, and a concept-based natural language system. Results showed no statistically significant differences in recall, precision, or user preferences. (Author/LRW)

Analyzed data gathered from 78 online searchers to examine attitudes toward the use of DIALOG and SDC's ORBIT command languages. It was found that most users preferred DIALOG for ease of use. Twenty sources are listed. (FM)

Describes a study that compared two information retrieval systems on a full-text medical database: one featured concept-based automatic indexing and statistical retrieval techniques, and the second used traditional word-based Boolean techniques. Evaluation of search results by calculating relative recall and precision is discussed, and user…

Lists questions to be used for information retrieval system evaluations and for information gathering in comparison of retrieval systems. (CWM)

The relative effectiveness of the CD-ROM information retrieval system, InfoTrac II, and the manual "Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature," was studied. Seventeen community college students were divided into two groups which researched the same questions either on CD-ROM or in the printed index. Results showed the "Readers'…

Conducted to gather information on the practical impact of implementing either the Washington Library Network (WLN) system or one of two versions of the DOBIS system in British Columbia Union Catalogue (BCUC) member libraries, this study addressed four questions: (1) the effect the introduction of the new system would have on workflows; (2)…

Describes a study conducted at Jacksonville State University (Alabama) that compared the ERIC print index, "Resources in Education" (RIE), to the ERIC index in CD-ROM format. Accuracy of results, time savings, and user satisfaction are discussed, and copies of the questionnaire and survey are appended. (Author/LRW)

Discusses results of a survey of music technical services librarians that investigated retrieval problems with the symbols for sharp and flat in music notation in online catalogs. Comparisons are made with an earlier study of online catalog vendors, and a list of institutions surveyed and the questionnaire used are appended. (LRW)

Describes a study conducted at Jacksonville State University (Alabama) that compared the ERIC print index with the ERIC index in CD-ROM format in the areas of accuracy, time savings, and user satisfaction. Results show greater satisfaction with CD-ROM. Copies of the questionnaire and survey used are appended. (Author/LRW)

Description of end user online searching at University of Ottawa highlights user survey, establishment of after-hours end user search service, costs, regulations, training librarians, publicity, implications, comparison of online searching by end users and trained intermediaries, presearch counseling, and librarians' perceptions of end users.…