An analysis of the question of the optimal depth of indexing in order to design an effective document retrieval system is presented. It is shown that some more fundamental questions about indexing and retrieval rather than indexing depth are central to the issue. (Author/MBR)

The major reasons which seem to be preventing operations research from achieving its potential and fulfilling the expectations of its proponents in library management are explored. (Author)

Recent mathematical descriptions of Bradford's distribution, and a new formulation that provides a more accurate estimation of the total number of papers and sources on a given scientific subject are presented. (Author/MBR)

Discusses the purpose of mathematical models and reviews the phases of the modeling process--defining performance, representing the problem, predicting performance, estimating parameters, defining optimization criterion, determining solution, and implementing results. Reviews of book-use, resource allocation, and library network models are…

Describes and discusses the relational organization of a bibliographical database, the notion of normal forms, relational languages, and the advantages of the relational approach to information retrieval. Twenty references are cited. (FM)

Goffman's epidemic theory is presented and compared to the contagion theory developed by Menzel. An attempt is made to compare the two models presented and examine their similarities and differences. The conclusion drawn is that the two models are very similar in their approach to understanding communication processes. (14 references) (Author/SJ)

Presents the concept of the average decision maker as a statistical entity with 10 essential properties, and defines the information state in terms of the decision maker's probability of choice of various courses of action. The implications for a generalized theory of information science are suggested. (33 references) (EAM)

Describes construction of citation network systems and some subsystems (time sequence network, cocitation network, couple network). Establishes structural modeling of these systems by means of system engineering. Explains and analyzes citation network systems. Includes graphs and charts. (JAK)

A generalized framework for developing analytical and conceptual relationships involving the flow of information has previously been suggested. This paper provides further refinement, rigor, and extension for some of the earlier relationships suggested. (12 references) (Author)

Examines factors that determine user charges based on query processing costs in numeric databases, and analyzes the problem of estimating such charges in advance. An approach to query cost estimation is presented which is based on the relational data model and the query optimization, cardinality estimation, and file design techniques developed in…

The first of three articles on the market value of information commodities defines information and commodities to characterize information commodities. The second article identifies five value-added dimensions of information commodities and discusses pricing. The third article analyzes the market for information commodities in terms of supply and…

Compares two information retrieval systems, CLARIT and TOPIC, in terms of assigned versus derived and precoordinate versus postcoordinate indexing. Models of information retrieval systems are discussed, and a test of the systems using a demonstration database of full-text articles from the "Wall Street Journal" is described. (Contains 21…

Discussion of the influence of computer technology on documentation focuses on ways in which digital libraries might enable spontaneous collaboration that does not require mutual administrative commitment. Describes a document model called multivalent documents that is used with annotations, discusses the information infrastructure, and presents…

A threshold rule is analyzed and compared to the Neyman-Pearson procedure, indicating that the threshold rule provides a necessary but not sufficient measure of the minimal performance of a retrieval system, whereas Neyman-Pearson yields a better apriori decision for retrieval. (Author/MBR)

Explores scientific inquiry as philosophical and behavioral model for online search specialist and information retrieval process. Nature of scientific research is described and online analogs to research concepts of variable, hypothesis formulation and testing, operational definition, validity, reliability, assumption, and cyclical nature of…