Showing papers in "Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology in 1986"
TL;DR: Notations and definitions necessary to identify the concepts and relationships that are important in modelling information retrieval objects and processes in the context of vector spaces are presented.
Abstract: Notations and definitions necessary to identify the concepts and relationships that are important in modelling information retrieval objects and processes in the context of vector spaces are presented. Earlier work on the use of vector model is evaluated in terms of the concepts introduced and certain problems and inconsistencies are identified. More importantly, this investigation should lead to a clear understanding of the issues and problems in using the vector space model in information retrieval. © 1986 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
331 citations
TL;DR: The proposed model is “wrapped around” existing Library of Congress subject-heading indexing in such a way as to enhance access greatly without requiring reindexing, and is argued that both for cost reasons and in principle this is a superior approach to other design philosophies.
Abstract: A model based on strikingly different philosophical as. sumptions from those currently popular is proposed for the design of online subject catalog access. Three design principles are presented and discussed: uncertainty (subject indexing is indeterminate and probabilistic beyond a certain point), variety (by Ashby’s law of requisite variety, variety of searcher query must equal variety of document indexing), and complexity (the search process, particularly during the entry and orientation phases, is subtler and more complex, on several grounds, than current models assume). Design features presented are an access phase, including entry and orientation, a hunting phase, and a selection phase. An end-user thesaurus and a front-end system mind are presented as examples of online catalog system components to improve searcher success during entry and orientation. The proposed model is “wrapped around” existing Library of Congress subject-heading indexing in such a way as to enhance access greatly without requiring reindexing. It is argued that both for cost reasons and in principle this is a superior approach to other design philosophies.
297 citations
TL;DR: Research in user behavior on online catalogs is in its early stages, but preliminary findings suggest that users encounter many of the same problems identified in behavioral studies of other types of bibliographic retrieval systems.
Abstract: Research in user behavior on online catalogs is in its early stages, but preliminary findings suggest that users encounter many of the same problems identified in behavioral studies of other types of bibliographic retrieval systems. Much can be learned from comparing the results of user behavior studies on these two types of systems. Research on user problems with both the mechanical aspects and the conceptual aspects of system use is reviewed, with the conclusion that more similarity exists across types of systems in conceptual than in mechanical problems. Also discussed are potential sources of the problems, due either to individual characteristics or to system variables. A series of research questions is proposed and a number of potential interim solutions are suggested for alleviating some of the problems encountered by users of information systems.
243 citations
TL;DR: This article found that negative credit references were often used with a countervailing positive credit, currency, or social consensus reference, which is considered to be empirical evidence of MacRoberts and MacRoberts' hypothesis that scholars dissemble when giving nega. tive references.
Abstract: There were 20 scholars interviewed about their citation motives in recently published articles. Their 437 citations were scaled along 1 or more of the following 7 titer motives: currency, negative credit, operational information, persuasiveness, positive credit, reader alert, and social consensus. The majority (70.7%) of the references were attributed to more than 1 motive. Analysis of the clustering of the titer motives showed 3 groupings: (1) persuasiveness, positive credit, currency, and social consensus, (2) negative credit, and (3) reader alert and operational information. Negative credit references were often found to be used with a countervailing positive credit, currency, or social consensus reference. This is considered to be empirical evidence of MacRoberts and MacRoberts’ [8] hypothesis that scholars dissemble when giving nega. tive references.
201 citations
TL;DR: In this article, authors in macroeconomics and Drosophila genetics were compared with independent judgments of inter-author similarity collected from 14 macroeconomists and 15 geneticists via a card-sorting technique.
Abstract: It is generally assumed that cocitation studies of specialties and fields yield valid representations of intellectual structure. To test the validity of this assumption, 5–6 years aggregate cocitation data for 41 authors in macroeconomics and 49 authors in Drosophila genetics (the genetics of fruit flies) were compared with independent judgments of inter-author similarity collected from 14 macroeconomists and 15 geneticists via a card-sorting technique. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (ALSCAL), and Johnson's “smallest diameter” clustering were used to create two-dimensional cluster-enhanced maps. Congruence between maps of cocitations and similarity judgments was assessed using canonical correlation of the spatial coordinates of points (authors) in each of a given pair of maps. Two significant canonical correlations were found in each test. The majority of clusters appeared in both cocitation and judgment maps. In macroeconomics, differences between maps and clusters represent the influence, on judgments, of individual authors' perceived policy orientation. In Drosophila genetics, major differences arise from a time lag in the incorporation of authors' recent work in the formal literature. Cocited author mapping is a valid representation of the intellectual structure in both macroeconomics and Drosophila genetics. © 1986 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
176 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the author productivity data were tested against Lotka's Law of xnmiddot;y = c. Overwhelming conformity to the law was found, however, only seven data sets fitted the inverse square law.
Abstract: There were 48 sets of author productivity data tested against Lotka's Law of xnmiddot;y = c. Overwhelming conformity to the law was found. However, only seven data sets fitted the inverse square law. For future tests, representative coverage and good sampling techniques should be adhered to in data compilation. A method is suggested to compute the values of n and c from the data. © 1986 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
116 citations
TL;DR: The issue of free-text versus controlled vocabulary is examined in this article and the point is made that these questions need to be answered if the authors are to design retrieval tools, such as thesauri, upon a rational basis.
Abstract: The issue of free-text versus controlled vocabulary is examined in this article. The history of the issue, which is seen as beginning with the debate over title term indexing in the last century, is reviewed and then attention is turned to questions which have not been satisfactorily addressed by previous research. The point is made that these questions need to be answered if we are to design retrieval tools, such as thesauri, upon a rational basis.
102 citations
86 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a common functional relationship among Lotka's law, Bradford's law and Zipf's law is derived, based on the sequences of observed values of the variables by means of an index.
Abstract: A common functional relationship among Lotka's law, Bradford's law, and Zipf's law is derived. The proof takes explicit account of the sequences of observed values of the variables by means of an index. This approach results in a more realistic and precise formulation of each law. © 1986 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
82 citations
TL;DR: A method of integrating Boolean queries with probabilistic retrieval models is proposed and the experimental results indicate that significant performance benefits can be obtained, particularly when dependencies are derived from term phrases identified in natural language queries.
Abstract: A method of integrating Boolean queries with probabilistic retrieval models is proposed. Boolean queries are interpreted as specifying term dependencies that can be used to correct the document scores obtained with a basic probabilistic model. Alternative methods of obtaining dependency information, such as user-specified phrases, can also be used in this approach. The experimental results indicate that significant performance benefits can be obtained, particularly when dependencies are derived from term phrases identified in natural language queries. © 1986 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
75 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors test diffusion theory in a study of the awareness, use, and diffusion of an innovation in a job environment of the working poor, specifically, job information.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to test diffusion theory in a study of the awareness, use, and diffusion of an innovation in a job environment of the working poor. In order to apply the theory, a modification of the definition of innovation was necessary. The innovation in this study was information, specifically, job information. The sample consisted of 50 women who had temporary employment as part of their enrollment in an urban Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) program. Findings revealed (1) some aspects of models of diffusion were more prominent than others in a study where the innovation is information, and (2) linkages could be made between models to give a clearer picture of the diffusion of job information. © 1986 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
TL;DR: A method is described for generating reviews or synopses of scientific fields called specialty narratives, applied to a co‐citation cluster in the field of cancer virology, and the resulting specialty narrative is described in relation to the structure of the original co-citation map.
Abstract: Il s'agit de trouver un moyen de transformer une structure en reseau de co-citations en un ordonnancement lineaire du type de ceux que l'on trouve dans un texte ecrit, en ayant pour pretention d'analyser ― et de modeliser- la pensee scientifique lorsqu'elle s'affiche a un champ de la connaissance. La generation de ces fragments est realisee a partir d'une analyse en amas (relation a un seul lien) de la base de donnees Science Citation Index
TL;DR: End-user searching of National Library of Medicine online databases during eleven years has been investigated through transaction logs, questionnaires, and follow-up interviews.
Abstract: End-user searching of National Library of Medicine (NLM) online databases during eleven years has been investigated through transaction logs, questionnaires, and follow-up interviews. From 1976 through 1984, pathologists and pharmacists performed 8,313 searches. Highlights of our studies are compared with a review of other end-user research. Volume of searching is directly related to the convenient placement of the terminal in the work place. Slightly fewer than half of all potential searchers actually search for themselves. Practices of pharmacists and pathologists do not differ in important ways. Nonmediated searchers feel they need answers more promptly than do those who obtain mediated searches. End-users perform very simple searches, mostly using only the AND operator. Problems with techniques are fewer and more easily solved than those with the vocabulary and content of the system. The major problems, with the most powerful capabilities of MEDLINE—subheadings and explosions—sometimes cause substantial loss of references, but in relatively few searches. One-on-one teaching is most popular, with trial-and-error the most frequent procedure used in actual learning. © 1986 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
TL;DR: A brief survey of the numerous applications of fuzzy set theory on data representation and information retrieval is made by means of an already extensive bibliography containing more than 80 papers describing data systems that are somehow “fuzzy.”
Abstract: Due to a rapid expansion of most domains in recent times, there is a constant growing need for information. Together with this phenomenon, there has been an explosive growth of the amount of data needed and the corresponding means of data storage. In order to handle these large amounts of data and to realize a fast processing of the information asked for, more and more institutions and organizations have set up automized information processing and have built up their database. Appearing in all kinds of applications such as economical, social, political, medical, and governmental fields, databases have already proven their ability to reduce time and space with respect to the retrieval as well as to the storage of data and information. In many situations we have to deal with data which are given in imprecise form or which are only partially known or even totally unknown. We may expect that the construction of databases which can represent and manipulate fuzzy data will increase the application areas of database systems and improve the interface between men and machines. In this paper we have made a brief survey of the numerous applications of fuzzy set theory on data representation and information retrieval. The importance of fuzzy set theory with respect to information systems is illustrated by means of an already extensive bibliography containing more than 80 papers describing data systems that are somehow “fuzzy.” © 1986 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors retrace l'historique du developpement des BD, les evenements importants, les solutions apportees and les tendances of ces vingt dernieres annees (INTD).
Abstract: En vingt ans l'industrie des banques de donnees on line est devenue un secteur important et prospere de l'industrie de l'information. Cet article retrace l'historique du developpement des BD, les evenements importants, les solutions apportees et les tendances de ces vingt dernieres annees (INTD)
TL;DR: The role and contributions of natural language processing in information retrieval and artificial intelligence research are examined in the context of large operational information-retrieval systems and services as discussed by the authors, and state-of-the-art information retrieval systems are found to combine the functional capabilities of the conventional inverted file-based term adjacency approach, commonly employed by commercial search services, with statistical-combinatoric techniques pioneered in experimental information retrieval research.
Abstract: The role and contributions of natural-language processing in information-retrieval and artificial-intelligence research is examined in the context of large operational information-retrieval systems and services. State-of-the-art information-retrieval systems are found to combine the functional capabilities of the conventional inverted file—Boolean logic—term adjacency approach, commonly employed by commercial search services, with statistical-combinatoric techniques pioneered in experimental information-retrieval research and formal natural-language processing methods and tools borrowed from artificial intelligence. © 1986 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
TL;DR: Examples of decision rules demonstrate that although further research is required, these rules can be automated to significantly enhance the adaptability of intermediary expert systems.
Abstract: Intermediary expert systems are designed to mediate between end-users and complex information retrieval systems. However, since most of these expert systems are based on text analysis rather than on models of hum man searching, they cannot process requestrelated criteria, such as precision or recall requirements. Analysis of the searching behavior of human intermediaries revealed a routine for the selection of search keys-freetext or controlled vocabulary-along a decision tree. Examples of decision rules demonstrate that although further research is required, these rules can be automated to significantly enhance the adaptability of inter. mediary expert systems.
TL;DR: Multiple design issues in creating successful menu selection systems include the primary issue of semantic organization and the host of secondary issues such as response time and display rates, shortcuts for frequent users, titles, phrasing of menu items, graphic layout, and selection mechanisms.
Abstract: Menu selection systems reduce training and memorization, simplify entry of choices, and structure the user's tasks. However, the use of menu selection is no guarantee that novices or experts will be satisfied or able to carry out their work. This article focuses on the multiple design issues in creating successful menu selection systems. These include the primary issue of semantic organization and the host of secondary issues such as response time and display rates, shortcuts for frequent users, titles, phrasing of menu items, graphic layout, and selection mechanisms. Novel approaches such as pop-up menus and embedded menus are covered. Experimental results and design guidelines are presented. © 1986 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
TL;DR: In this article, the derivation of a general retrieval effectiveness measure is investigated, and it is shown that the measure cannot be justified on the basis of formal considerations associated with measurement theory.
Abstract: In this article the derivation of a general retrieval effectiveness measure is investigated. It is shown that the measure cannot be justified on the basis of formal considerations associated with measurement theory. The implications of the mathematical condition which defines the relative importance a user assigns to precision and recall are also investigated. Inconsistencies in the definition of the associated weight are resolved, and it is shown that the influence of the weight on the effectiveness measure can produce counterintuitive results. An alternative effectiveness measure provided by the MZ-metric is recommended. © 1986 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine the classical Bradford law and show that the maximal journal productivity in each group forms an approximate Bradford law with fixed universal constant e−E ≈ 0.56.
Abstract: In this article, we examine the classical law of Bradford. This law yields groups with an equal number of articles, but where the number of journals increases geometrically. Within each group, and starting with the last ones (the least productive journals) we examine the maximal productivity of the journals. We describe, using only ym, the maximal productivity (of the journal of rank one), all the possible productivities of the journals in every Bradford group.
The same method shows that the most productive journal in every group p (starting with the last group) produces a number of articles mp, where:[FORMULA] where k is the Bradford multiplicator and E is the number of Euler. Hence, the maximal journal productivity in each group forms an approximate Bradford law with fixed universal constant e−E ≈ 0.56. We can say that the dual law of a Bradford law is an approximate Bradford law.
This approach is not a pure rank method (as is Bradford's law), nor a pure frequency method (as is Lotka's law), but a frequency method within a rank method.
The formula for mp gives a theoretical formula (and hence an explanation) for k, the Bradford multiplier, which is easily applied in practical data. It also sheds more light on the Yablonsky-Goffman-Warren formula for k, which has only been established experimentally. © 1986 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
TL;DR: This paper examined the relationship between journal productivity and journal obsolescence for a database of references from articles dealing with desalination and found that those journals that were most productive would, on the average, have relatively short active lives, and that as journal productivity decreased, the average active lives of the articles contributed by a journal would increase.
Abstract: This study examined the relationship between journal productivity and journal obsolescence for a database of references from articles dealing with desalination. Although these two variables have often been studied in isolation, no previous studies have examined their interaction within a single subject literature. It was hypothesized that those journals that were most productive would, on the average, have relatively short active lives, and that as journal productivity decreased, the average active lives of the articles contributed by a journal would increase. The number of references to a particular journal in the database was used as a measure of that journal's productivity. The measure of obsolescence used was the median age of the references to a particular journal. The hypothesized inverse linear relationship was not found to hold, although the data did exhibit an inverse tendency. It was found that highly productive journals did tend to have low journal median citation ages, and that high journal median citation ages were always associated with journals that were unproductive in terms of the numbers of references to those journals in the database. These extreme cases appeared to be distributed in a hyperbolic manner. The remaining journals, which were not highly productive and did not have high journal median citation ages, appeared to be distributed in a random manner. © 1986 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
TL;DR: A two-layer learning system has been implemented for MINDS (Multiple Intelligent Node Document Servers), a distributed system of knowledge-based query engines for efficiently retrieving multimedia documents in an office environment of distributed workstations.
Abstract: MINDS (Multiple Intelligent Node Document Servers) is a distributed system of knowledge-based query engines for efficiently retrieving multimedia documents in an office environment of distributed workstations. By learning document distribution patterns, as well as user interests and preferences during system usage, it customizes document retrievals for each user. A two-layer learning system has been implemented for MINDS. The knowledge base used by the query engine is learned at the lower level with the help of heuristics for assigning credit and recommending adjustments; these heuristics are incrementally refined at the upper level. © 1986 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
TL;DR: The need for transparent information retrieval systems and the history of research that has been directed toward meeting the need are discussed and a taxonomy of the functions involved in information retrieval is provided, together with an indication of what needs to be automated and how it can be, has been, or is being done.
Abstract: Definition et raison d'etre des systemes d'information «transparents». Solutions partielles existant pour assurer cette transparence: terminaux frontaux, interfaces, intermediaires, passerelles. Historique des recherches en ce domaine. Taxonomie des fonctions comprises dans la recherche de l'information et indication de celles qui peuvent etre automatisees. Quatre groupes sont definis: convertisseurs, programmateurs, selecteurs et evaluateurs/analyseurs. Etude des solutions ayant un impact sur le developpement et l'implementation des fonctions de recherche automatisees: aides a la transparence, centralisation contre decentralisation, secret et besoin de savoir, position des lecteurs dans la chaine d'utilisation et implications pour le controle et les passerelles verticales et horizontales. Role des nouvelles technologies telles que le CD-ROM, et leurs effets possibles sur les aides a la transparence comme sur les passerelles. (INTD)
TL;DR: One that the authors will refer to break the boredom in reading is choosing query processing in database systems as the reading material.
Abstract: Introducing a new hobby for other people may inspire them to join with you. Reading, as one of mutual hobby, is considered as the very easy hobby to do. But, many people are not interested in this hobby. Why? Boring is the reason of why. However, this feel actually can deal with the book and time of you reading. Yeah, one that we will refer to break the boredom in reading is choosing query processing in database systems as the reading material.
TL;DR: Un modele de donnees regroupe trois composantes: un ensemble d'objets, des operateurs et des lois d'integrite; sa structure peut etre hierarchique, en reseau ou relationnelle.
Abstract: Un modele de donnees regroupe trois composantes: un ensemble d'objets, des operateurs et des lois d'integrite; sa structure peut etre hierarchique, en reseau ou relationnelle. L'application a la structure de la recherche documentaire a necessite le plus souvent le recours a une structure relationnelle. A partir d'une description des ordres et structures logiques d'une recherche documentaire, une analyse algorithmique est faite
TL;DR: End‐user searchers perform online searches for a variety of reasons; past trends indicate that end‐user searching will increase, which has significant implications for vendors and for intermediaries, as more and different customer demands will be made.
Abstract: La recherche online est une partie de l'industrie de l'information en perpetuelle evolution. Durant ces dix dernieres annees elle est sortie des bibliotheques pour penetrer dans les bureaux et chez les particuliers creant un groupe d'utilisateurs finals. Ceux-ci sont definis comme ne faisant pas appel a un intermediaire pour interroger mais leurs caracteristiques demographiques sont inconnues. Les utilisateurs finals font des recherches online pour des raisons tres diverses et il semble que leur nombre s'accroit regulierement ce qui a des implications non negligeables pour les vendeurs et les intermediaires, des demandes de clients plus nombreux et plus divers devant en decouler. (INTD)
TL;DR: Five separate studies designed for the National Library of Medicine to develop and test methodologies for evaluating the products of large databases yielded both broad research outcomes and specific recommendations to NLM.
Abstract: This article reports on five separate studies designed for the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to develop and test methodologies for evaluating the products of large databases. The methodologies were tested on literatures of the medical behavioral sciences (MBS). One of these studies examined how well NLM covered MBS monographic literature using CATLINE and OCLC. Another examined MBS journal and serial literature coverage in MEDLINE and other MBS-related databases available through DIALOG. These two studies used 1010 items derived from the reference lists of sixty-one journals, and tested for gaps and overlaps in coverage in the various databases. A third study examined the quality of the indexing NLM provides to MBS literatures and developed a measure of indexing as a system component. The final two studies explored how well MEDLINE retrieved documents on topics submitted by MBS professionals and how online searchers viewed MEDLINE (and other systems and databases) in handling MBS topics. The five studies yielded both broad research outcomes and specific recommendations to NLM.