Investigates the value of applying principles derived from simulated annealing to clustering tuples in database design, and compares this technique with a graph-collapsing clustering method. It is concluded that, while the new method does give superior results, the expense involved in algorithm run time is prohibitive. (24 references) (CLB)

Presents a method for measuring the quality of controlled vocabularies that involves identifying clusters of documents, searching for each document, identifying terms used to index each document, and calculating certain measures to determine indexing quality. The results of a comparison of three library and information science databases using this…

Explores the underlying concepts involved in the design of art scholarly databases and describes three systems definition projects currently in progress. The discussion covers the revisions of MARC formats and authority controls used in bibliographic information networks that might support an art scholarly database. (eight references) (CLB)

Presents results of searching seven World Wide Web (WWW) databases with the same three questions and evaluates the performance of each database in answering the questions. Tables show search results and basic database information. Sidebars list WWW databases not studied and address the future of Web searching and fee-based WWW databases. (JMV)

Explores the use of visualization to enhance the information retrieval process, particularly in bibliographic retrieval systems. Topics discussed include document retrieval systems; human visualization; the VIBE (VIsualization by Example) system, a prototype system for visualizing a collection of documents; and differences between VIBE and more…

Discusses a study in progress that is analyzing retrieval failures in two full-text computer-assisted legal research (CALR) systems, LEXIS and WESTLAW. Computer searching by experts is compared with manual searching by experts, examples are given, and a taxonomy of causes of retrieval failure is discussed. (13 references) (LRW)

When names of 24,000 children from migrant education censuses were cross-referenced with abuse registries, it was found that migrant children were significantly more likely to be maltreated than other children, although incidence rates varied from state to state. The paper emphasizes research methodology, access to central registers, and…

Provides an overview of databases that include the best information about Latin America. Highlights include problems with using "Latin America" as a search concept; Latin American information on DIALOG; the dominance of TEXTLINE among the major newswires; comparisons between DIALOG and other online services; specialized Latin American…

Elicitations study during 40 mediated information retrieval (IR) interactions identified 1557 search intermediary elicitations within 15 purpose categories (requests for information on search terms and strategies, database selection, search procedures, system's outputs and relevance of retrieved items, and users' knowledge and previous…

Integrates structured data and text using the unchanged, standard relational model. The performance of a parallel relational database system and the effect of query reduction on accuracy were tested, and it was found that queries can be reduced prior to their implementation without incurring significant loss in precision/recall. (AEF)

Presents a comparison of access to full-text articles from a free bibliographic database (PubSCIENCE) for affiliated and unaffiliated users. Found that affiliated users had access to more full-text articles than unaffiliated users had, and that both types of users could increase their level of access through additional searching and greater…

In this study the authors start from the observed fact that equality of opportunities of educational achievement is higher in integrated school systems than in differentiated school systems. In other words, in integrated school systems, a pupil's school achievement depends less than elsewhere on the social and cultural resources of his or her…

The present analysis is a reframing of an earlier study conducted by the author to compensate for perceived deficiencies in previous studies on police decisions in sexual assault complaints. Specifically, qualitative comparative analysis was employed at the micro-social level to reveal justification scenarios, employed by investigating…

This study evaluates two databases, "Historical Abstracts" and REESWeb, to determine their effectiveness in supporting academic social science research. While many performance evaluations gather quantitative data from isolated query and response transactions, this study is a qualitative evaluation of the databases in the context of…

Opponents of school choice argue that private schools are not "accountable" because they are not subject to detailed oversight by a regulatory bureaucracy. They claim private school employees can be expected to engage in abusive and criminal behavior more frequently. School choice supporters respond that parents hold private schools…