The history of DIALOG, Mead Data Central, and other vendors of online business databases is surveyed to illustrate their use of classic business strategy by balancing consolidation of assets and differentiation of products. A discussion of pricing strategies is also included. (EM)

Describes innovative pricing structure consisting of low connect time fee, print fees, and search fees, offered by Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) ONLINE--an online searching system used to locate chemical substances. Pricing options considered by CAS, the search-based pricing approach, and users' reactions to pricing structures are noted. (EJS)

Reviewed are several studies which demonstrate how artificial intelligence techniques can be applied in the design of end user-oriented interfaces (which would eliminate the need for an intermediary) to existing online systems, as well as in the development of future generations of online systems intended for the end user. (Author/SW)

Describes INVIDO (systeme d' INformations VIsuelles a DOmicile), a graphical tool which was designed and implemented for studying user reactions to the various types of graphic information displays used by videotex systems. Sample display illustrations included depict weather forecasts and sports and lottery results. (Author/JL)

Explores the effects on relevance concerns in traditional online search strategies caused by ranking retrieved documents. Two extreme examples are presented to illustrate the impact of ranking; advantages and limitations of ranking are discussed. (SW)

Examines the economic effects on information-producing companies of user migration from print to online information services. Three reasons are cited for the transition to online: (1) inflation, (2) new technology, and (3) database enhancement. Cost graphs and responses to questionnaires supplement the discussion. (SW)

This study compares results of searching full text of journal articles available on standard inverted file systems with searching of various parts of a document's surrogate. Relative recall and precision ratios for four search methods (full text, abstract, controlled vocabulary, bibliographic union) are reported. Search topics are appended. (14…

Describes a study conducted at Purdue University Library to determine not only the costs of providing online information services to users, but the value of time saved by the end user in having a computer search run and user satisfaction with the results. Six references are listed. (RBF)

Reviews developments and products in the information industry that are aimed at the end user and identifies impediments to end user searching that may explain why end user access has not supported these products. Suggestions for overcoming these impediments are offered. (eight references) (CLB)

Defines two types of online databases: source, referring to those intended to be complete in themselves, whether full-text or abstracts; and bibliographic, meaning those that are not complete. Predictions are made about the future growth rate of these two types of databases, as well as full-text versus abstract databases. (EM)

Analytical methods for facilitating comparison of multiple sets during online searching are illustrated by description of specific searching methods that eliminate duplicate citations and a factoring procedure based on syntactic relationships that establishes ranked sets. Searches executed in National Center for Mental Health database on…

Research results with industrial and academic users and nonusers of computer-readable bibliographic data bases indicate that prior information "style," satisfaction with more traditional information resources, and attitudinal predisposition to the possible utility of on-line search services have some small effect on subsequent usage of on-line…

Reviews 12 different methods of information retrieval for the reduction of a large set by removal of irrelevant or unwanted elements, including logic revision (use of "and" and "not" logic, classification codes, limit commands, field restriction), concept revision, and terminology revision. Examples for each option are given.…

Describes a survey of online searchers in Australia that examined their educational background, organizational settings, experience, attitudes toward online searching, search behaviors, styles of searching, and perceived requester satisfaction. It is concluded that Australian searchers support preplanning, online interaction, and relevance checks;…

Describes a study in which users of an academic library search service completed online search request forms which asked open, bibliographic, and structural questions. The discussion covers the effect of the type of question asked on the amount of information elicited from users, searcher behavior, and the relevance of search results. (17…