The main method of locating information on the World Wide Web is to use a search engine. Given a set of terms, a search engine will return a list of documents containing those terms. Often, though, this list of documents is extremely large. Unfortunately, there are currently no tools to assist the information seeker in determining whether these…

Discusses the traditional Cranfield model for information retrieval (IR) evaluation, problems with the model, and extensions and alternatives to Cranfield; describes emerging themes in IR evaluation, including multiple evaluation dimensions and methods, inclusion of users and other stakeholders in the evaluation process, and various approaches to…

A series of five runs comprised of 20 searches each were carried out in a three-year span of the INSPEC data base. The same queries were processed manually in the corresponding volumes of Science Abstracts, and comparison of the output of each search method exposed reasons for the failures. Emphasis is laid on the fact that a query comprises other…

Examines traditional and interactive models that have emerged in information retrieval (IR), and proposes an interactive IR model based on different levels in the interactive processes. Analyzes strengths and weaknesses of the traditional model. Concludes with general remarks on the state of IR interaction research. (Author/AEF)

Discusses ways to apply traditional search strategies to online information seeking. Highlights include explore and browse search features; hierarchical features (knowledge/topic/subject trees, categories, distribution lists); analytical search features; and the process approach. (AEF)

Computer vision offers a variety of techniques for searching for pictures in large collections of images. Appearance methods compare images based on the overall content of the image using certain criteria. Finding methods concentrate on matching subparts of images, defined in a variety of ways, in hope of finding particular objects. These ideas…

A pathfinder diskette contains a customized Web page that links the student immediately to content-rich Web sites, eliminating the false starts and dead ends inherent in preliminary Web searches. Suggestions are provided for creating pathfinders that meet multiple information needs within the school. (AEF)

An educational methodology for the development of interdisciplinary, problem-solving skills was developed. Called the problem laboratory, the approach focuses on linking the student with the real problems of real organizations through specifically designed data bases. Students are presented with a brief problem statement and proceed to solve the…

Investigates how an informal computerized environment, or workspace, can support information seeking. Outlines the design space for information-seeking environments and presents a prototype, SketchTrieve, a graphic editor. Discusses how this environment might support information-seeking in ways not available in other more overdetermined systems.…

A future, automated, interactive, knowledge delivery system for use by researchers was tested using a manual cognitive model. Conceptualized from schema/frame/script theories in cognitive psychology and artificial intelligence, this hypothetical system was simulated by two psychologists who interacted with four researchers in microbiology to…

Suggests improvement to online catalogs based on a 2 1/2 year study of patron search patterns. Preliminary findings indicate significant differences in search strategies and suggest that these strategies and the reasons patrons choose them should be important factors in the design of future online catalogs. Fourteen references are included.…

This study was undertaken to test the effectiveness of a computer-assisted tutorial (CAI) program in teaching the novice and transient user the procedures for conducting a search on The New York Times Information Bank. A two-part experiment was designed to compare the relative effectiveness of the CAI program and the printed instructions…

A test of a reputable scholarship search service using a fictitious student and characteristics revealed that the aid source information obtained was only fair in relevance and response rate to follow-up inquiry. Students are advised to concentrate on more productive sources of information: colleges, personal contacts, and publications. (MSE)

The theme of the 2001 "ASIST" (American Society for Information Science and Technology) annual conference is "Information in a Networked World," which covers a broad range of theory and practice in information science. The program includes 52 refereed papers, 46 SIG and panel sessions, and 33 poster presentations. Topics include: digital…

This monograph is an overview of the present and possible future trends in networking, the use of computer communications technology to facilitate the sharing of information and computer resources over great distances. The text reviews networks already being used by universities to share instructional resources and computing ability, and by…