Compares Singapore students' composing behaviors and abilities in (1) hand-written and (2) computer essays using a spelling checker. Results indicate that the spelling checker benefits those students whose initial writing ability is poor and whose writing is blocked by an emphasis on the mechanical aspects of writing. (Author/AEF)

Discusses the transition to combined print and electronic journals in the Asia-Pacific region to achieve social goals; reviews the use of Web server access logs; and presents a case study of the South Pacific Journal of Psychology to illustrate the utility of access log analysis for evaluating the economic and social goals of electronic…

Results from three studies examining 1295 relevance judgments by 36 information retrieval (IR) system end-users are reported. Both the region of the relevance judgments, from non-relevant to highly relevant, and motivations or levels for the relevance judgments are examined. Implications for relevance theory and IR systems evaluation are…

Reviews information retrieval (IR) studies since 1986 from the user's perspective. Identifies two main approaches that advocate user-centered design theory: (1) the cognitive approach; and (2) the holistic approach. Also explores other approaches--systems thinking/action research and usability techniques that may have potential for IR research and…

Discussion of information retrieval highlights DalText, a prototype information retrieval system that provides access to nonindexed textual data files where the mode of access is determined by the user based on the task at hand. A user study is described that was conducted at Dalhousie University (Nova Scotia) to test DalText. (Contains 23…

Describes a study conducted at the University of Hong Kong during which computer ethics were discussed at student interviews. Attitudes of students who had attended a subcourse on ethical and social matters related to computer use were compared with the interviewees. Results provide implications for further development in the area of computer…

Evaluates Web sites representing businesses in 11 countries in East and Central Europe (ECE) by taking a stance of the Western business user. Findings indicate that the ECE business Web is showing a capability of survival usability, while lacking for the most part more competitive usability. (Author/AEF)

Develops and tests a new behavioral model of information seeking on the Web by combining theoretical elements from information science and organization science. Results suggest that a behavioral framework which relates search motivations and moves may be helpful in analyzing Web-based information seeking. (Author/AEF)

Presents methodology and findings of an empirical study comparing local citation patterns with the holdings lists of various sources of journal articles in the United Kingdom, including the British Library. Topics include identifying data that indicates researchers' use of journals in academic libraries and identifying data to indicate journal…

Describes results from focus groups with Web users 10 to 13 years of age in Montreal that explored design criteria for Web portals. Discusses Ask Jeeves for Kids, KidsClick, Lycos Zone, and Yahooligans! and considers screen designs, color, graphics, animation, keyword search capabilities, browsable subject categories, and individual user…

Describes a survey conducted in 1997 in seven school districts in Nassau County (New York) to determine the use of computer technology in elementary school classrooms. Highlights include number of computers per classroom, number of newer computers, Internet access, and future plans. (LRW)

Examines two components related to faculty adoption of computers on university campuses: change in use patterns and change in attitudes and opinions. Results show that use and attitudes are multidimensional constructs and that changes happen at different rates for different categories of use. Findings suggest that faculty members need adequate…

Reports the findings of an experiment using a simulated title page, author surnames, and title words, one-third of which were selected by each of the three authors, to determine the frequency of one-screen displays when used to search for known items in an implied Boolean retrieval system. (Author/AEF)

This study of Arkansas college students (n=332) examined the role of technology in determining levels of library anxiety. Of five dimensions of library anxiety [(1) barriers with staff, (2) affective barriers, (3) comfort with the library, (4) knowledge of the library, and (5) mechanical barriers], that of mechanical barriers--feelings resulting…

Examines the development of information and communication technology (ICT) capability by associate-trainees on a postgraduate certificate of education (PGCE) course involving the promotion of ICT use during three classroom placements by in-school teacher-mentors. Considers the perceived effects on the trainees' development of ICT capability by the…