In this study, multidimensional scaling (MDS) was used to measure how 23 chemical engineering seniors categorized key design terms at the beginning and end of a capstone design course. An on-line method was developed to collect the MDS data. The results suggest that some important design concepts were not well understood, even at the end of the…

The PictureAustralia service is a collaboration between cultural agencies to bring their digital pictorial collections together at the one web site, hosted by the National Library of Australia. It was developed through the identification of a need for a national image discovery service. The key to the service is its cross-sectoral nature,…

Computer-mediated communication (CMC) is used in different contexts and uses different tools, such as those of computer conferencing, e-mail, and groupware. This article introduces the use of Formal Concept Analysis (FCA) as a methodology to visualize the data in CMC. FCA, which is based on a mathematical lattice theory, offers visual maps…

This paper describes the attempt to use the Internet to study a particular student culture. The goal is to highlight the ethical and procedural issues encountered in the Internet study of an online student culture. The primary purpose of the study was to examine how closeted gay students experience their identity on campus and in an online…

The Ohio College Library Center (OCLC) is a regional library network. It provides catalog cards tailored to the requirements of its fifty-three member libraries via an on-line shared cataloging system. (2 references) (Author/RS)

Sample page from the project included. (DD)

The use of an on-line information retrieval system by the scientists themselves is described. MEDUSA was designed to allow physicians to interrogate the MEDLARS data base. A Brief description is given of the system and details of an experiment to test its effectiveness. (8 references) (Author)

A straightforward procedure for performing weighted-term searches can be programmed quickly and easily, and the same general algorithm can be used for either on-line or batch mode searching. The method can be used to do whole text searches as well as conventional searches for index terms or other descriptors. (5 references) (Author/NH)

The question of how a scholar can be induced to take advantage of computer technology and capabilities in his search for information is the subject of this paper. Students accept on-line bibliographic searching more readily than research workers. (6 references (Author/SJ)

Reports on study conducted at the James J. Hill Reference Library in St. Paul, Minnesota, which explored the extent to which duplicate records in the OCLC database are affecting usefulness of system. Search keys and 'search enhancements' recently introduced by OCLC are discussed with examples. Thirteen references are cited. (EJS)

Discusses the information explosion as it relates to the emergence of the information handling capability explosion, or the use of computer technology, citing library network online databases as evidences of information control. (EJS)

Discusses new information forms that promise to force changes in the information transfer process which is based on the organization, storage, and distribution of edition printed products. Roles of authors, publishers, jobbers, librarians, and users in the information transfer process are highlighted. (EJS)

Discusses strengths of abstracting and indexing services (subject coverage, resolution of language problems, systematic indexing) and summarizes sources, countries of origin, languages, total coverage, and indexing of four scientific and technical services--Biosis, Engineering Information, Inspec, Chemical Abstracts Service. Characteristics of…

This first article in a series presents an overview of online industry employment, including a diagram of the online job stream; a menu of job titles (rank, title, function); explanations of jobs of online industry employees (librarians, scientists, salesmen, writers, publishers, teachers, programers); and perquisites and hazards of online jobs.…

Discussion of the marketing of bibliographic databases focuses on defining the market, the purchasing process, and the purchase decision process for researchers, managers, and librarians. The application of marketing concepts to the purchase of online information services is noted. (EJS)