An evaluation of the Epilepsy Abstracts Retrieval System (EARS) was performed. Searches were conducted on the on-line system and evaluated in terms of recall, precision, and general user satisfaction. A detailed analysis of factors affecting the success and failure of the on-line searches was carried out. (4 references) (Author/SJ)

The Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) system was used to identify 1,734 documents on program evaluation methodology. Attempts to further characterize these documents by subject were only partially successful because of the lack of sufficient depth of indexing and design constraints of the computer system. Attempts to characterize…

The purpose of the investigation was to determine how effectively biomedical practitioners, with a minimum of introduction to the system, can conduct on-line searches to satisfy their own information needs. The searches were conducted on the Abridged Index Medicus data base as implemented on the on-line ELHILL system (AIM-TWX). ELHILL is the ORBIT…

This description of the implementation of online search services in a small college library focuses on the low-cost, time-conscious methods adopted for searching, publicity, the policy for determining search fees, and evaluation. Sample materials provided include a poster, online statistics, a questionnaire, and a printout. (RBF)

Briefly reviews various methodologies for constructing enhanced document representations, discusses their general lack of usefulness, and describes a method of document indexing which uses title words taken from bibliographically related items. Evaluation of this process indicates that it is not sufficiently reliable to warrant incorporation into…

Four papers are included in Part One of the eighteenth report on Salton's Magical Automatic Retriever of Texts (SMART) project. The first paper: "Content Analysis in Information Retrieval" by S. F. Weiss presents the results of experiments aimed at determining the conditions under which content analysis improves retrieval results as well…

The cost-performance evaluation of an on line free-text bibliographic retrieval system, SUPARS, is reported. Two measures of cost were used in the evaluation: a computer processing charge expressed in dollars, and the number of documents retrieved. The measure of performance was an estimate of the recall ratio. (11 references) (Author/SJ)

A review of published studies reveals that the cost of comparable manual and online searches are approximately equal. Cost trends and the relative effectiveness of both methods are evaluated. A bibliography of 51 references is appended. (Author/RAA)

Response time of on-line document retrieval systems is analyzed. Linear and inverted file organizations are considered and their response times are evaluated. (Author)

A little understood aspect of implementing on-line software is the problem of effective monitoring. Northwestern University has developed techniques to monitor an on-line information retrieval system, by using that system both to monitor itself and to process the data collected. The Remote Information Query System is a batch and on-line…

Six data bases common to Lockheed and SDC were singled out for a study conducted by DOE to determine whether it would be advisable to maximize the use of one data base vendor for their searches. Results indicated that maximizing either SDC or Lockheed was not practical; differences in costs of two systems are outweighed by their different search…

This second of two related articles by the same authors evaluates the performance of an experimental translating computer system, CONIT, whose purpose was to investigate techniques for simplifying access to, and operation of, bibliographic retrieval systems. Forty-two references are cited. (FM)

This study evaluated online searching performed on the National Library of Medicine system to identify implications for training and continuing education. Searchers were selected with formal and informal training, from three different types of organization, and with differing levels of experience. It was found that most searchers have clearly…

Compares the coverage of women's studies titles contained in "Feminist Periodicals: A Current Listing of Contents" with three general table of contents services (Current Contents, UnCover, Contents First), and evaluates the coverage of these titles within these services. Found that some subject areas, such as women's studies, require the…

This examination of the OCLC serials control sub-system points to positive and negative aspects of the OCLC system as they relate to serials, and evaluates the system's serials cataloging capabilities. While this report assumes a knowledge of the basic operations of OCLC, it describes the system in general, its function in cataloging, and its…