Describes an empirical study that was conducted to examine the performance of expert search intermediaries from Chemical Abstracts Service. Highlights include subject-independent and subject-dependent expertise; a model of the use of subject-specific knowledge; and implications for computerized intermediary systems and for training human…

Presents a model of information retrieval based on plausible inference which suggests that techniques should be found for combining multiple search strategies into an overall assessment of a document's relevance. The results of experiments designed to test this approach using a simple spreading activation search are discussed. (21 references) (CLB)

Assesses the adequacy of Robert S. Taylor's model of question formulation in the context of online presearch interviews, and presents an altered model which introduces the bearers of needs and makes distinctions about those needs as isolated or negotiated events in the interviews. Thirty-three references are listed. (FM)

Discusses end-user searching in Boolean information retrieval systems considers the role of search intermediaries and proposes a model of user preferences that incorporates a user's profile. Highlights include document representation; information queries; document output ranking; calculating user profiles; and selecting documents for a local…

Explores the fundamentals of browsing behavior as a basis for the creation of an intelligent computer system to assist in online information retrieval. A prototype system is described, and the results of initial tests are reported. (5 references) (Author/CLB)

Examines various ways of dividing the labor of an information search between the person and the system. Different configurations of two dimensions--degree of system involvement in searching and types of search activity carried out by the person or system--are discussed. Recommendations for further research and development are offered. (49…

Describes a model for the workload of a full text retrieval system and of a simulation model for a version of an existing system called Full/Text. The effectiveness of various data caching strategies using the 2 models are explored, and the impact of various parameters on the strategies are evaluated. (13 references) (LRW)

Describes a study that was conducted to model the navigation patterns followed by users when retrieving information in hypertext systems. The development of two frequency distribution models is explained, the influence of search tasks on path patterns is discussed, and further research is described. (Contains 17 references.) (LRW)

Proposes that topic representations should consist of excerpts from domain thesaurus, generated by spreading activation technique. Algorithm for generating excerpts is outlined and exemplified, and problem of assessing resemblance between two excerpts is discussed. Whether existing thesauri are adequate for this purpose is questioned, and ideas…

Reports information retrieval experiments comparing the performance of a probabilistic retrieval model that incorporates interdocument links with the simpler spreading activation strategy. Results indicated that the overall improvement obtained by including hypertext links in the retrieval model was low. (30 references) (EA)

Describes the three subsystems of an information retrieval system (document descriptions, queries, and matching algorithms) and argues that the interdependency of these subsystems requires adaptation for the system to perform when any component changes. An algorithm for redescribing documents, in response to changes in queries and retrieval rules,…

Discusses approaches to the integration of query-based information retrieval and browsing in a hypertext network. A prototype system developed to evaluate the proposed approach in terms of retrieval effectiveness and search efficiency is presented, and design and implementation issues concerning the prototype are considered. (30 references) (EA)

Based on an international workshop held at Rutgers University, this article discusses problems and issues in the design, research, and implementation of distributed expert-based information systems (DEBIS). Information needs of end users are stressed, architectures for expert information retrieval systems are explored, and prototype models are…

Reports algorithm for calculation of term discrimination values that is sufficiently fast in operation to permit use of exact values. Evidence is presented to show that relationship between term discrimination and term frequency is crucially dependent upon type of inter-document similarity measure used for calculation of discrimination values. (13…

Discusses information retrieval as an inherently interactive process utilizing a variety of information-seeking strategies on informational and meta-informational levels. An interface design for a bibliographic information retrieval system, called BRAQUE (BRowsing And QUEry), that supports user interactions in a two-level hypertext environment is…