Showing papers in "Information Research in 2001"

Environmental scanning as information seeking and organizational learning

Abstract: Environmental scanning is the acquisition and use of information about events, trends, and relationships in an organization's external environment, the knowledge of which would assist management in planning the organization's future course of action. Depending on the organization's beliefs about environmental analyzability and the extent that it intrudes into the environment to understand it, four modes of scanning may be differentiated: undirected viewing, conditioned viewing, enacting, and searching. We analyze each mode of scanning by examining its characteristic information needs, information seeking, and information use behaviours. In addition, we analyze organizational learning processes by considering the sense making, knowledge creating and decision making processes at work in each mode.

Converting a Controlled Vocabulary into an Ontology: the Case of GEM

Abstract: The prevalance of digital information raised issues regarding the suitability of conventional library tools for organizing information. The multi-dimensionality of digital resources requires a more versatile and flexible representation to accommodate intelligent information representation and retrieval. Ontologies are used as a solution to such issues in many application domains, mainly due to their ability explicitly to specify the semantics and relations and to express them in a computer understandable language. Conventional knowledge organization tools such as classifications and thesauri resemble ontologies in a way that they define concepts and relationships in a systematic manner, but they are less expressive than ontologies when it comes to machine language. This paper used the controlled vocabulary at the Gateway to Educational Materials (GEM) as an example to address the issues in representing digital resources. The theoretical and methodological framework in this paper serves as the rationale and guideline for converting the GEM controlled vocabulary into an ontology. Compared to the original semantic model of GEM controlled vocabulary, the major difference between the two models lies in the values added through deeper semantics in describing digital objects, both conceptually and relationally.

A bibliometric study of the publication patterns of scientists in South Africa, 1992-96.

Abstract: Publication patterns and impact factors vary greatly per scientific area and Discipline and influence the research and publication performance of scientists. In this study, the productivity of scientists and the impact of A graded scientists on others in the same and related field are analysed. Another aspect in relation to productivity is the comparison between the research and publication output of male and female scientists. The publication productivity is analysed using authored and co-authored articles retrieved from Science Citation Index and social Sciences Index for a period of five years 1992 to 1996. Since productivity of scientists as a whole depends on publication in journals, national and international presentation of papers at conferences, teaching and supervising students, a questionnaire was also used to elicit information. Citation analysis was used to study the impact factors of A graded scientists. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the results. Findings are discussed in detail. This study reveals that of the four groups of scientists, namely, professors, associate professors, senior lecturers and lecturers, both professors and lecturers publish much more compared to associate professors and senior lecturers. When male and female scientists are compared, there is greater productivity among the male scientists than female scientists, as the latter group is placed at a much lower positions compared to the former. Female scientists who are in junior positions such as lecturers and senior lecturers produce much more than female scientists in senior position such as professors and associate professors.

Intelligence obtained by applying data mining to a database of French theses on the subject of Brazil

Abstract: The subject of Brazil was analyzed within the context of the French database DocTheses, comprising the years 1969 -1999. The data mining technique was used to obtain intelligence and infer knowledge. The objective was to identify indicators concerning: occurrence of thesis by subject areas; thesis supervisors identified with certain subject areas; geographical distribution of cities hosting institutions where the theses were defended; frequency by subject area in the period when the theses were defended. The technique of data mining is divided into stages which go from identification of the problem-object, through selection and preparation of data, and conclude with analysis of the latter. The software used to do the cleaning of the DocTheses database was Infotrans, and Dataview was used for the preparation of the data. It should be pointed out that the knowledge extracted is directly proportional to the value and validity of the information contained in the database. The results of the analysis were illustrated using the assumptions of Zipf's Law on bibliometrics, classifying the information as: trivial, interesting and 'noise', according to the distribution of frequency. It is concluded that the data mining technique associated with specialist software is a powerful ally when used with competitive intelligence applied at all levels of the decision -making process, including the macro level, since it can help the consolidation, investment and development of actions and policies.

Critical theory as a foundation for pragmatic information systems design.

Abstract: A semiconductor device providing improved utilization of semiconductor surface area by enhancing the current carrying capability per unit area. The improvement arises from contouring the surface in the conductive channel region of the device so that the current carrying channel is wider than the plane surface that it occupies. This morphology may be achieved by forming troughs having optional rectangular, \"U\", or \"V\" shapes; the troughs run parallel to the conductive channel current flow. The improvement is especially useful for MOS and power MOS transistors, and is applicable to DMOS transistors as well as conventional MOS transistors.

Situating relevance: Exploring individual relevance assessments in context

Abstract: This paper discusses some of the challenges encountered whilst researching and writing a thesis that explores individual understandings of \"relevance\" and \"topic.\" It is based upon a discussion paper and presentation prepared as part of the Doctoral Workshop held during the ISIC 2000 Conference in Borås, Sweden. The focus of this paper is the doing of qualitative research. To provide a framework for this discussion, the key assumptions that have shaped the author's thesis are presented in the first section of this paper. The paper then focuses on some of the dilemmas of qualitative research encountered during the research and writing of this thesis, giving particular attention to the notion of \"context\" and the writing of qualitative research. Forthcoming results from the thesis are mentioned in the closing section. A Thesis Summary is also provided at the end of this paper.

Research priorities in social welfare library and information work.

Abstract: A questionnaire listing possible research projects in the field of social welfare information work was sent to 8 1 individuals representing practitioners in the field as well as librarians and information workers. The results were used to provide background information for participants in a Forum funded by the British Library Research and Development Depart ment and revealed some significant differences between priority judgements of practitioners and those of librarians and information workers. The technique employed can be regarded as a modification of the 'Delphi' technique and it is suggested that bringing respondents to the questionnaire together for the second 'round' of the investigation may have specific advantages in increasing mutual understanding among different interest-groups.