Showing papers in "Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology in 1992"

The skewness of science

Abstract: Scientific publications are cited to a variable extent. Distributions of article citedness are therefore found to be very skewed even for articles written by the same author, approaching linearity in a semilog plot. It is suggested that this pattern reflects a basic probability distribution with some similarity to the upper part of a normal (Gaussian) distribution. Such a distribution would be expected for various kinds of highly specialized human activity, parallels being found in the distribution of performance by top athletes and in the publication activity of university scientists. A similar skewness in the distribution of mean citedness of different authors may combine with the variability in citedness of each author's articles to form a two-leveled citational hierarchy. Such a model would be capable of accounting for the extremely skewed distribution of citedness observed for all articles within a scientific field, which approaches linearity in a double-log rather than in a semilog plot. The skewness implies that there will always be a large fraction of uncited publications, the size of the fraction depending on the citation practices (such as the number of references per publication) within the field in question. However, as part of a continuous probability distribution even uncited articles have a definite probability of contributing to scientific progress. Since it is furthermore impossible to eliminate uncited articles for statistical reasons, they should be the cause of neither worry nor remedy. The citational variability between articles in a journal is less (semilog linearity) than in the corresponding field as a whole, suggesting that each journal represents a select, stratified sample of the field. However, the variability is still too large to make the journal impact factor (the average citedness of the journal's articles) suitable as a parameter for evaluation of science. Fifteen percent of a journal's articles collect 50% of the citations, and the most cited half of the articles account for nearly 90% of the citations. Awarding the same value to all articles would therefore tend to conceal rather than to bring out differences between the contributing authors. The skewness in the citedness distribution of each author's articles, the large overlap between different authors and the existence of field-dependent systematic differences in citedness would seem to make even article citations unsuitable for evaluation of individual scientists or research groups. At the national level, citations may be more useful, provided due corrections are made for the field effects. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Psychological relevance and information science

Abstract: This article summarizes the theory of psychological relevance proposed by Dan Sperber and Deirdre Wilson (1986), to explicate the relevance of speech utterances to hearers in everyday conversation. The theory is then interpreted as the concept of relevance in information retrieval, and an extended example is presented. Implications of psychological relevance for research in information retrieval; evaluation of information retrieval systems; and the concepts of information, information need, and the information-seeking process are explored. Connections of the theory to ideas in bibliometrics are also suggested. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

The effectiveness of stemming for natural-language access to Slovene textual data

Abstract: There have been several studies of the use of stemming algorithms for conflating morphological variants in free-text retrieval systems. Comparison of stemmed and nonconflated searches suggests that there are no significant increases in the effectiveness of retrieval when stemming is applied to English-language documents and queries. This article reports the use of stemming on Slovene-language documents and queries, and demonstrates that the use of an appropriate stemming algorithm results in a large, and statistically significant, increase in retrieval effectiveness when compared with nonconflated processing; similar comments apply to the use of manual, right-hand truncation. A comparison is made with stemming of English versions of the same documents and queries and it is concluded that the effectiveness of a stemming algorithm is determined by the morphological complexity of the language that it is designed to process. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Interfaces for end-user information seeking

Abstract: Essential features of interfaces to support end-user information seeking are discussed and illustrated. Examples of interfaces to support the following basic information-seeking functions are presented: problem definition, source selection, problem articulation, examination of results, and information extraction. It is argued that present interfaces focus on problem articulation and examination of results functions, and research and development are needed to support the problem definition and information extraction functions. General recommendations for research on interfaces to support end-user information seeking include: attention to multimedia information sources, development of interfaces that integrate information-seeking functions, support for collaborative information seeking, use of multiple input/output devices in parallel, integration of advanced information retrieval techniques in systems for end users, and development of adaptable interfaces to meet individual difference and multicultural needs.

Consortia in the Standards Development Process.

Abstract: Among the many new phenomena that have arisen since the divestiture of AT&T in the United States, and the liberalization of information technology markets worldwide, the emergence of consortia explicitly related to the standards setting process. While R&D consortia and user groups have existed for many years, consortia in the standards-setting process possess unique properties. This article develops a classification of the standard-setting consortia and develops a theoretical basis for their emergence. This theory is based on the confluence of two classical economic theories: political theory and the theory of markets where network externalities exist. We also consider the implications of these consortia on the standards-setting process from theoretical and practical perspectives. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Getty's Synoname™ and its cousins: A survey of applications of personal name-matching algorithms

Abstract: The study reported in this article was commissioned by the Getty Art History Information Program (AHIP) as a background investigation of personal name-matching programs in fields other than art history, for purposes of comparing them and their approaches with AHIP's Synoname™ project. We review techniques employed in a variety of applications, including art history, bibliography, genealogy, commerce, and government, providing a framework of personal name characteristics, factors in selecting matching techniques, and types of applications. Personal names, as data elements in information systems, vary for a wide range of legitimate reasons, including cultural and historical traditions, translation and transliteration, reporting and recording variations, as well as typographical and phonetic errors. Some matching applications seek to link variants, while others seek to correct errors. The choice of matching techniques will vary in the amount of domain knowledge about the names that is incorporated, the sources of data, and the human and computing resources required. Personal name-matching techniques may be included in name authority work, information retrieval, or duplicate detection, with some applications matching on name only, and others combining personal names with other data elements in record linkage techniques. We discuss both phonetic- and pattern-matching techniques, reviewing a range of implemented and proposed name-matching techniques in the context of these factors. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

The convergence of information science and communication : a bibliometric analysis

Abstract: This study asks whether the disciplines of information science and communication are converging, as indicated by a bibliometric study of all core journals of both disciplines in the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI®) for the period 1977 to 1987. Results show very little convergence between these disciplines, at least on the basis of cross-disciplinary journal citation patterns, although the number of journals involved has increased slightly over time. A few journals are mainly responsible for the cross-disciplinary citing, and they are primarily information science journals citing communication journals. The results may be of interest to those studying scholarly communication or bibliometrics, to faculty constructing curricula in either of the disciplines, to communication and information science scholars seeking new areas of research, and to collection development librarians in drawing the boundaries of these disciplines. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

A General Treatment of Data Redundancy in a Fuzzy Relational Data Model.

Abstract: In fuzzy data modeling, there is a series of design issues that should be dealt with. This article concentrates on the definition of data redundancy in a fuzzy relational data model. Compared to the existing approaches, a general treatment is provided, enabling us to directly and rigourously handle the situation in which possibility distributions can appear as attribute values combined with closeness relations in domain elements. The treatment of fuzzy data redundancy, which we propose here, is mainly based on Zadeh's extension principle. In doing so, a natural incorporation of closeness relations into the operations defined by the extension principle is worked out. Certain desirable properties are achieved in our model, in terms of intuition and model design. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Information science and scientists: JASIS, 1972–1990

Abstract: This research reports the results of a bibliometric study of nine volumes of the Journal of the American Society for Information Science (JASIS): 1972–1974, 1982–1984, and 1988–1990. For each full-length article, values of six variables were recorded: the year the article was published, the number of citations to the article, the funding status of the work (funded or not funded), the funding agency (if funded), the subject of the paper, and the institutional affiliation of the first author, and several hypotheses were tested. No relationship was found between whether an article was funded and the quality or utility of the article, as measured by the number of subsequent citations to the work. Funding for information science research has declined, especially at the federal levels. JASIS authors who are affiliated with schools of library and information science have the most difficulty in having their work funded, although the work produced by this group of authors is the most highly cited. While the emphasis on theoretical work has remained essentially constant over the past 20 years, the number of articles related to professional issues and related fields has increased, and the number of articles classified as applied has decreased. More JASIS authors are coming from academic departments in universities; fewer are information practitioners. Information science is developing as a discipline and moving away from its practice-oriented roots. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Experiments in automatic Library of Congress Classification

Abstract: This article presents the results of research into the automatic selection of Library of Congress Classification numbers based on the titles and subject headings in MARC records. The method used in this study was based on partial match retrieval techniques using various elements of new records (i.e., those to be classified) as “queries,” and a test database of classification clusters generated from previously classified MARC records. Sixty individual methods for automatic classification were tested on a set of 283 new records, using all combinations of four different partial match methods, five query types, and three representations of search terms. The results indicate that if the best method for a particular case can be determined, then up to 88% of the new records may be correctly classified. The single method with the best accuracy was able to select the correct classification for about 46% of the new records.

Origins of bibliometrics, citation indexing, and citation analysis: The neglected legal literature

Abstract: Historians of bibliometrics have neglected legal bibliometrics almost completely. Yet bibliometrics, citation indexing, and citation analysis all appear to have been practiced in the legal field long before they were introduced into scientific literature. Publication counts are found in legal writings as early as 1817. Citation indexing originated with “tables of cases cited,” which date at least as far back as 1743. A full-fledged citation index book was published in 1860. Two ambitious citation analyses of court decisions appeared in 1894 and 1895. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

The Persistence of Fraud in the Literature: The Darsee Case.

Abstract: The incidence of fraud, or scientific misconduct, has been much publicized of late. While not new, the case of John Darsee has played an important part in the literature of biomedical research for a number of years. Darsee was discovered to have fabricated the data which formed the bases for many articles and abstracts he published through 1981. The present study shows that, although a considerable amount of time has passed and some of his papers have been retracted, Darsee's work continues to be cited, and cited positively, in the literature on cardiology through 1990. The implications of this phenomenon are discussed. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Invisible hands and visible advisors: An economic interpretation of standardization

Abstract: This article provides an outline of the economic factors influencing the development of standards. Standards may develop through market mechanisms, organizations that combine market participants and government guidance. Each of these mechanisms may produce desirable outcomes or distort them, depending on market structure, chance historical events, and the costs of technical alternatives. Many economically desirable and distorted outcomes are possible in theory, while in practice, it is often difficult to know what is a good or bad economic choice

International comparison of departments' research performance in the humanities

Abstract: Methods are developed to compare the research performance of departments in two humanities disciplines, general linguistics and general literature. Departments from an Anglo-Saxon country were compared with several departments from European, non-Anglo-Saxon countries. A method was developed to reconstruct publication lists of departments, based on searches in various databases. We were able to retrieve 98% of the citations given to the work of one particular department. In both disciplines, it was found that the impact of some departments was largely dependent on their books and chapters, while other departments received most citations from their journal articles. The origins of citations were traced. Some departments had a largely local impact, whereas others showed a more cosmopolitan impact. Although there was some evidence of continental “self-citations,” citations were also given across continents. The results indicate that bibliometric assessment of research performance is potentially useful in these humanities disciplines. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

On the Objectives of Citation Analysis: Problems of Theory and Method

Abstract: Citation analysis can go beyond its present preoccupations and explore new areas if it follows several rules of research design—some of them known and generally accepted, others specific to this discipline: (a) a rigorous definition of the research objectives is essential in deciding on its design, including the selection and definition of variables and the measurement of their effects; (b) the ascertainment of content-related variables enhances the theoretical interest and practical usefulness of citation analysis, although it may entail the use of smaller samples; (c) the set of papers to be compared with respect to citation frequency should be stratified in order to make them as similar as possible to each other; (d) the dependent variable, citation frequency, may comprise more than one kind of citation; (e) the elementary methods of analysis based on stratification (or matching) and adjustment should be complemented by model-based methods which could accomodate larger numbers of variables and would take into account the skewness of citation count distributions © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Standardization: Understanding the Process.

Abstract: Critics of the CCITT, ISO, ANSI, X3, IEEE and other Standards Development Organizations ("SDOs") complain that the formal approach to standard-setting followed by these institutions is too bureaucratic and time consuming. In this paper, I briefly describe the key features which distinguish SDO standard-setting and analyze these features in light of recent work in political economy. I argue that many of the features which lead to a slower process may be interpreted as an efficient institutional response to the problems posed by industry standardization. A better understanding of the motivation behind the design of formal SDOs is essential if we are to improve existing processes.

Validation of the Repertory Grid for Use in Modeling Knowledge

Abstract: The extrapolation of theories of cognitive modeling from psychological contexts to the domain of information systems design has raised empirical questions regarding the validity and reliability of these techniques in the new applications environment. Kelly's (1955) theory of personal construct psychology (PCP) is one such theory which, together with the repertory grid technique of cognitive modeling, is being explored for use in systems development. Since the repertory grid constitutes a mechanism for both the elicitation and the representation of cognitive models, it has been suggested for incorporation into intelligent front-end interfaces for information storage and retrieval systems (ISRS). Previous applications of the grid have emphasized the personal and ideographic characteristics of personal construct systems. New applications in information systems design require verification of the grid's utility and reliability for rendering faithful representations of impersonal and communal knowledge. The research presented here provides a test of the repertory grid for representing commonality of construing among members of a homogenous group of subjects. Commonality of construing is demonstrated on two sets of constructs. Some differences are observed between constructs generated by the subjects and those provided for them by an “expert.” Implications of this effect for the application of PCP to ISRS design are discussed. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Emanuel Goldberg, electronic document retrieval, and Vannevar Bush's Memex

Abstract: Vannevar Bush's famous article, “As We May Think” (1945), described an imaginary information retrieval machine, the Memex. The Memex is usually viewed, unhistorically, in relation to subsequent developments using digital computers. This study reconstructs the little-known background of information retrieval in and before 1939 when “As We May Think” was originally written. The Memex was based on Bush's work during 1938–1940 in developing an improved photoelectric microfilm selector, an electronic retrieval technology pioneered by Emanuel Goldberg of Zeiss Ikon, Dresden, in the 1920s. Visionary statements by Paul Otlet (1934) and Walter Schurmeyer (1935) and the development of electronic document retrieval technology before Bush are examined. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Informal and formal channels in boundary‐spanning communication

Abstract: Boundary-spanning communication has been found to be important to various types of organizations and groups as a source of new information and awareness of environmental changes. Although the importance of formal, public channels in building the knowledge base of a field has long been recognized, most studies of boundary-spanning activity have been limited to direct, personal (informal) communication. This study examines both informal and formal communication patterns of three groups in order to determine whether, in fact, a variety of media are used in boundary-spanning communication. The groups selected were the members of three professions which fill intermediary positions between the creators and consumers of cultural products; one located in academia and two in the private sector. Major findings were that: (1) A boundary-spanning structure linking 82.2% of the survey respondents was composed of both informal and formal media. (2) The professions differed in which type of channel was most heavily used, but were similar in their perceptions of the importance of the channels. (3) Individuals central to the informal part of the structure were also more likely to use the formal parts of the structure. (4) Boundary-spanning media were among the five most frequently cited media for all three of the professions. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Evaluation of advanced retrieval techniques in an experimental online catalog

Abstract: Research on the use and users of online catalogs conducted in the early 1980s found that subject searches were the most common form of online catalog search. At the same time, many of the problems experienced by online catalog users have been traced to difficulties with the subject access mechanisms of the online catalog. A stream of research has concentrated on appplying retrieval techniques derived from information retrieval techniques derived from information retrieval (IR) research to replace the Boolean search methods of conventional online catalog systems. This study describes the results of retrieval tests using a variety of these search methods in the CHESHIRE experimental online catalog system.

When is the probability ranking principle suboptimal

Abstract: The probability ranking principle retrieves documents in decreasing order of their predictive probabilities of relevance. Gordon and Lenk (1991) demonstrated that this principal is optimal within a signal detection-decision theory framework, and it maximizes the inquirer's expected utility for relevant documents. These results hold under three conditions: calibration, independent assessment of relevance by the inquirer, and certainty about the computed probabilities of relevance. We demonstrate that the probability ranking principle can be suboptimal with respect to expected utility when one of these conditions fails to hold.

The communication-information relationship in system-theoretic perspective

Abstract: There is a growing recognition that information and communication are interrelated in very fundamental ways. The disciplines of Communication and Information/Library Studies have a long tradition of common interests and concepts—a tradition that has provided what might be termed a “scholarly push” toward increasing interdisciplinary linkages between the fields. But the intersection of Communication and Information Studies cannot be explained only, or even largely, in terms of “scholarly push.” Far more crucial to growing interest in the communication-information relationship is the momentum and rhetoric of the marketplace. These forces give urgency to the need for frameworks that clarify the theoretical relationship between communication and information by identifying similarities and differences, exploring ways in which differences may be complementary and/or supplementary, and facilitating theoretical integration in general. This article addresses these issues from a system-theoretic perspective. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Breakdown of the robustness property of Lotka's law : the case of adjusted counts for multiauthorship attribution

Abstract: We show that fractional counting of authors does not lead to a Lotka distribution. Consequently, in this case, Bookstein's robustness property of Lotka's law breaks down

An empirically grounded model of the adoption of intellectual technologies

Abstract: A qualitative study of end-user computing applications in five departments in three organizations was undertaken The study was designed to develop an empirically grounded model of the adoption process for intellectual technologies—technologies that are inherently flexible, enabling the user to take on the role of developer Detailed analysis of 43 user-developed computing applications resulted in a model consisting of five stages: Resource Acquisition, Application Development, Adoption/Renewal, Routinization/Enhancement, and External Adoption By comparing this model with two prior models of the adoption process, aspects of the adoption process requiring futher research were identified © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc

An Information-Theoretic Measure of Term Specificity.

Abstract: The inverse document frequency (IDF) and signal-noise ratio (S/N) approaches are two well known term weighting schemes based on term specificity. However, the existing justifications for these methods are still somewhat inconclusive and sometimes even based on incompatible assumptions. Although both methods are related to term specificity, their relationship has not been thoroughly investigated. An information-theoretic measure for term specificity is introduced in this study. It is explicitly shown that the IDF weighting scheme can be derived from the proposed approach by assuming that the frequency of occurrence of each index term is uniform within the set of documents containing the term. The information-theoretic interpretation of term specificity also establishes the relationship between the IDF and S/N methods. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

A Gray code based ordering for documents on shelves: Classification for browsing and retrieval

Abstract: A document classifier places documents together in a linear arrangement for browsing or high-speed access by human or computerized information retrieval systems. Requirements for document classification and browsing systems are developed from similarity measures, distance measures, and the notion of subject aboutness. A requirement that documents be arranged in decreasing order of similarity as the distance from a given document increases can often not be met. Based on these requirements, information-theoretic considerations, and the Gray code, a classification system is proposed that can classify documents without human intervention. It provides a theoretical justification for individual classification numbers going from broad to narrow topics when moving from left to right in the classification number. A general measure of classifier performance is developed, and used to evaluate experimental results comparing the distance between subject headings assigned to documents given classifications from the proposed system and the Library of Congress Classification (LCC) system. Browsing in libraries, hypertext, and databases is usually considered to be the domain of subject searches. The proposed system can incorporate both classification by subject and by other forms of bibliographic information, allowing for the generalization of browsing to include all features of an information carrying unit. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Concentration and diversity of availability and use in information systems: A positive reinforcement model

Abstract: A mathematical model is proposed to explain the observed concentration (or diversity) in two distributions of nominal classes. We tentatively pose that the model is valid when: (1) there is a cause-effect relationship between the items in the distributions under consideration; and (2) there is a positive reinforcement between the occurrence of items in the second and in the first distribution. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

On the market value of information commodities. I. The nature of information and information commodities

Abstract: textThis article lays the conceptual foundations for the study of the market value of information commodities. The terms “information” and “commodity” are given precise definitions in order to characterize “information commodity,” and thus to provide a sound basis for examining questions of pricing. Information is used by marketplace actors to make decisions or to control processes. Thus, we define information as the ability of a goal‐seeking system to decide or control. By “decide” we mean choosing one alternative among several that may be executed in pursuit of a well‐defined objective. “Control” means the ordering of actions. Two factors make it possible to turn something into a commodity: (1) appropriability, and (2) valuability. If something cannot be appropriated (i.e., owned), it cannot be traded; moreover, if it cannot be valued, there is no way to determine for what it might be exchanged. We define an information commodity as a commodity whose function it is to enable the user, a goal‐seeking system, to obtain information, i.e., to otain the ability to decide or control. Books, databases, computer programs, and advisory services are common examples of information commodities. Their market value derives from their capacity to furnish information.

On the origin and meaning of bibliometric indicators : journals in the social sciences, 1886-1985

Abstract: In this study, it is demonstrated that, as disciplines mature, research articles in core journals become increasingly similar in their bibliometric features. Data were collected from research articles published in core journals in sociology, political science, and economics from 1886 through 1985 (N=8,634). Variation in levels of use of footnotes and of visuals within the same discipline was found to decline over time, even though the means about which the variation was measured changed throughout the period. It is suggested that authors, editors, referees, and others come to view prevailing practices in the use of footnotes and visuals as disciplinary standards for the presentation of research. Comparison of change in levels of variation to change in level of consensus described in disciplinary histories suggested an association between levels of agreement on presentational standards and levels of cognitive consensus

Intelligent Information Retrieval: An Introduction.

Abstract: Researchers are exploring the application of artificial intelligence techniques to information retrieval with the goal of providing intelligent access to online information This article surveys several such systems to show what is possible in the lab today, and what may be possible in the lab today, and what may be possible in the library or office of tomorrow Systems incorporating user modeling, natural language understanding, and expert sytems technology are presented