This comparison of two approaches to the development of computerized supports for decision making--expert systems and multivariate models--focuses on computerized systems that assist professionals with tasks related to diagnosis or classification in human services. Validation of both expert systems and statistical models is emphasized. (39…

Discussion of explanations and knowledge representation within knowledge-based systems focuses on the development of an expert system for purification of proteins in a Swedish laboratory. Topics include domain conceptualization; a multiple-explanation construction model; a study of laboratory staff that investigated construed explanations; and…

Describes a study that established a measure and model for use in predicting and explaining electronic mail systems as an example of computer-mediated communication technologies usage and choice. The results indicated that all of the eight hypotheses showed significant correlation between criterion and predictor variates, supported by different…