The authors advocate a systematic procedure involving the identification of: fixed parameters, variable options for each variable parameter, factors affecting a choice among available options, factors affected by a choice among available options, and the optimum sequence in which decisions should be made during the design process. (Author/MF)

The main conclusions are: the human factor appears to be the main variable in all components of an information retrieval system; length of indexes affects performance considerably more than indexing languages; question analysis and search strategies affect performance to a great extent - as much, if not more than indexing. (Author/MF)

Examines various types of link list structures built on top of the traditional random access files for application to a database query technique involving multiple keys, and shows how the technique can improve performance of traditional random access files for the Grants Information System. (Author/CMV)

Reviews several noncyclical, nonrepetitive hypotheses that try to predict broad spectrum maturational stages of overall information technology growth. Based on the areas of convergence among the hypotheses, several predictions are offered, and it is suggested that we are at a major transition point entering the third stage of computerized…

Proposals are made for practical approaches to the design of electronic office systems to provide for the effective storage and retrieval of the documents that they generate. Problems of records management and requirements to be met by the designer of an electronic office system are highlighted. Nineteen references are cited. (EJS)

Computer routines designed to determine if a song already exists in a song file data base are described. Written in FORTRAN IV, SONG FILE DATA MATCH compares the note sequence of songs in the data base and the one to be added to it. Information is then presented to the user which analyzes the sequence of notes and compares them to other songs.…

This report describes the current status of Project INTREX experiments and provides a detailed technical record. Activities concentrating on the bibliographic access problem involve: (1) the investigation of a digitally-encoded, machine-manipulated augmented catalog, for which the task of preparing entries for 10,000 documents is about half…

A more complete definition of the features offered in present day generalized data base management systems is provided by this second technical report of the CODASYL Systems Committee. In a tutorial format, each feature description is followed by either narrative information covering ten systems or by a table for all systems. The ten systems…

Computer routines to summarize data and generate reports from weekly log records submitted by teachers participating in the Southwest Regional Laboratory's communications skills monitoring program are described. Written in Univac FORTRAN V, Communications Skills 1, Weekly Log Summary, Revision 1 (CS-1-WLSR1) displays information by student group,…

The automated identification of students as they progress through an instructional program is described as an essential capability of the Southwest Regional Laboratory's (SWRL) Instructional Management System (IMS). Performance characteristics of procedures for linking data to individual students (whose records are maintained by IMS) are…

A project is being conducted to test the feasibility of an information storage and retrieval system for museum specimen data, particularly for natural history museums. A pilot data processing system has been developed, with the specimen records from the national collections of birds, marine crustaceans, and rocks used as sample data. The research…

Some of the schools participating in the Southwest Regional Laboratory's Instructional Management System (IMS) pilot test submitted input data forms to and received processed information from regional processing and data collection centers. To determine the feasibility of alternative methods of data collection and output return, evaluative data…

This paper explains the development of an Information Search and Recording System (ISRS) for research and development organizations which require an efficient method of locating and recording stored information, including literature searches by staff members. The system will enable staff members to: (1) locate stored information by use of a…

An analysis of existing computerized data banks in science and technology reveals that nearly half of them involve the storage and retrieval of bibliographic data. Activity in this area has been independent and autonomous. This situation is now giving way to a new environment which involves cooperation, standards, and a rigorous rational analysis…

The development of mechanized information services in a university library has the following design goals: (1) the center for information services should be operational, (2) it should be a general purpose system, (3) it should be adaptable, (4) it should be replicative, (5) it should encourage increased receptivity and use, and (6) it should be…