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IRList Digest Volume 5 Number 06
IRList Digest Saturday, 7 January 1989 Volume 5 : Issue 6
Today's Topics:
Abstracts - Dissertations selected by S. Humphrey
News addresses are
Internet: fox@vtopus.cs.vt.edu
BITNET: foxea@vtcc1.bitnet (replaces foxea@vtvax3)
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Date: Thu, 8 Dec 88 20:57:22 EST
From: "Susanne M. HUMPHREY" <humphrey@MCS.NLM.NIH.GOV>
Subject: some IR-related abstracts
AN University Microfilms Order Number ADG88-11084.
AU LANGLE, GERNOT-BERNHARD.
IN University of Minnesota Ph.D 1988, 242 pages.
TI AN INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECT OF SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE IN FUNCTIONAL
AREAS OF BUSINESS ON INFORMATION SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND DESIGN.
DE Business Administration, General.
AB Recent studies on the design of computer based information systems
have indicated that the content of the knowledge base and the
reasoning behavior of systems analysts are two important factors
in the development of computer based information systems. This
study focuses on knowledge which relates to a specific functional
area of business (such as accounting, manufacturing, or marketing)
and the effect of the presence or absence of such function
specific domain knowledge on how systems analysts determine
information requirements. Determining information requirements is
postulated to involve the construction of representations
utilizing modeling, discovery, and validation processes.
The specific study was an empirical investigation involving eight
experienced business systems analysts. Each subject was asked to
analyze and design two information systems, one in a familiar area
of business (one about which the subject possessed function
specific domain knowledge), the other in an unfamiliar area of
business. Subjects were instructed to think out loud during the
tasks and their verbalizations were tape recorded and transcribed
for analysis.
The results indicate that the presence of function specific domain
knowledge affected the construction of representations as well as
modeling, discovery, and validation processes. Subjects with
function specific domain knowledge were found to (1) build
representations considering a larger number of facts and concepts
relating to the information system's application domain; (2)
discover and validate the representations requesting additional
domain specific information more frequently; and (3) model the
information system utilizing analogical reasoning more often than
subjects without function specific domain knowledge.
Interpretation of the results suggests that when experienced
systems analysts possess function specific domain knowledge, they
are more likely to construct accurate and complete systems
representations and to exhibit focused and efficient information
gathering behavior. This results in increased efficiency in
information requirements determination, or in increased quality of
information requirements specifications, or both.
AN University Microfilms Order Number ADG88-01493.
AU MURALIKRISHNA, M.
IN The University of Wisconsin - Madison Ph.D 1988, 170 pages.
TI OPTIMIZATION OF MULTIPLE-DISJUNCT QUERIES IN A RELATIONAL DATABASE
SYSTEM.
DE Computer Science.
AB In this thesis, we describe the optimization of arbitrarily
complex queries expressed in relational calculus. The
qualification list is allowed to be any complex boolean expression
involving both ANDs and ORs. In other words, the qualification
list may have an arbitrary number of disjuncts. The query graph of
each disjunct may also have any number of components. Optimizing
the various disjuncts independently of each other can be very
inefficient. Considerable savings in cost can be achieved by
optimizing the various disjuncts together.
In a multiple-relation multiple-disjunct query, it may be possible
to combine two or more disjuncts into one term. This will cut down
the number of scans on each relation and also the number of times
each join is performed. The objective will be to merge the
disjuncts into the minimum number of terms. Minimizing the number
of terms can be formulated as the problem of covering a merge
graph with the minimum number of complete merge graphs, which are
a restricted class of cartesian product graphs. The problem of
minimizing the number of terms is NP-complete. We present
polynomial time algorithms for special classes of merge graphs. We
provide a heuristic for general merge graphs.
For single-relation multiple-disjunct queries involving more than
one attribute, an optimal access path might consist of more than
one index. The cost in our optimization model, for single relation
queries, is measured in terms of the number of pages fetched from
disk. We will formulate the problem of finding a set of optimal
access paths for a single-relation multiple-disjunct query as one
of finding a minimum weighted vertex cover in a hypergraph.
Finding the cheapest vertex cover in a hypergraph is NP-complete.
We present a new approximation algorithm that gives near optimal
vertex covers for random hypergraphs over a wide range of edge
probabilities.
We also demonstrate the usefulness of equi-depth multi-dimensional
histograms in optimizing queries using multi-dimensional indices.
AN University Microfilms Order Number ADG88-03029.
AU EDYBURN, DAVE LEE.
IN University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Ph.D 1987, 270
pages.
TI AN EVALUATION OF THE INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SKILLS OF STUDENTS WITH
AND WITHOUT LEARNING HANDICAPS USING PRINTED AND ELECTRONIC
ENCYCLOPEDIAS.
DE Education, Technology.
AB The use of online databases for information retrieval has risen
substantially in recent years as a result of issues associated
with accessibility, convenience, and efficiency. This study
examined student use of information technology and focused
specifically on students' natural information retrieval skills by
(a) comparing student use of printed and electronic forms of an
encyclopedia, (b) examining the effects of menu or command driven
interfaces and task difficulty on students' success of retrieval
of specific factual information using encyclopedias, and (c)
assessing students' attitudes toward information retrieval tasks
when using printed and electronic encyclopedias.
Thirteen junior high students with learning handicaps and fifteen
students without learning handicaps were randomly selected and
randomly assigned to one of three treatment orders in a repeated
measures Latin square design. Assessments were made on each
student's IQ, spelling ability, reference skills, and keyboarding
speed. Each treatment session involved retrieving specific factual
information on four search tasks using one of three encyclopedias:
print, electronic with menus, or electronic with commands.
Students completed an attitude scale at the end of every search
session.
Significant differences were found between the two groups' levels
of success on all retrieval tasks. The menu driven electronic
encyclopedia was found to improve retrieval success significantly
over the command driven version. However, the menu electronic
encyclopedia was not found to improve retrieval success
significantly over the printed encyclopedia. Further, the command
driven encyclopedia significantly impaired retrieval success to a
level lower than that in the printed encyclopedia. Significantly
greater retrieval success was also found on assigned tasks versus
self-selected tasks and on simple tasks versus complex tasks.
Regression analysis indicated that scores from the reference
skills test and keyboarding speed were significant predictors of
retrieval success, whereas IQ and spelling ability were not.
Students' attitudes toward information retrieval tasks were not
affected by the type of encyclopedia used, but students with
learning handicaps were found to hold significantly higher
(positive) attitudes than their nonhandicapped peers after all
three treatments. The implications of the results for teaching
online searching to students are noted.
AN University Microfilms Order Number ADG88-07814.
AU LINN, RICHARD JOHN.
IN The Pennsylvania State University Ph.D 1987, 164 pages.
TI AN EXPERT SYSTEM APPROACH TO THE CONTROL OF AN AUTOMATED
STORAGE/RETRIEVAL SYSTEM.
DE Engineering, Industrial.
AB An architecture for an Expert System based control system for the
control of an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (AS/RS) is
created. The control system includes several unique elements,
including the hierarchical partitioning of the control and
decision tasks as well as the use of simulation to predict system
performance. Strategic control policies and decisions are made
utilizing a knowledge base of strategies that have been shown to
perform well in practice. Tactical planning includes
implementation of strategic plans during normal operation periods.
The tactical planning module also includes a mechanism that
detects input congestion and potential or existing system
blockage. Alternative cart control scenarios are suggested by an
expert system based tactical decision module. These control
scenarios are then run through a short-run deterministic
simulation in order to determine their merit. The control that
best affects the system is implemented. The system was compared to
the conventional system, and the experimental result has shown
that the expert system based control appears to be an excellent
control alternative for an AS/RS operation.
AN University Microfilms Order Number ADG88-07364.
AU THABIT, HASSAN J.
IN University of Pittsburgh Ph.D 1987, 187 pages.
TI INFORMATION TRANSFER: THE DIFFUSION OF MICROCOMPUTERS IN SAUDI
ARABIAN UNIVERSITIES.
DE Information Science.
AB The study's purpose was to examine the diffusion of micros in
Saudi Arabia in relation to hardware, software, users, and
protential users. The study investigated the micro use by
university students and faculty and identified available micro
hardware and software. The study determined the source and
channels of communications used and needed for the diffusions of
micros and examined the vendor's role as information provider.
Factors affecting the diffusion were investigated and the overall
diffusion was evaluated as to: relative advantages, compatibility,
complexity, trialability, and observability. Questionnaires and
interviews were used, and the subjects were students and faculty
members, and micro vendors.
The findings showed that micros were perceived to have relative
advantages, compatibility, simplicity, trialability, and
observability by the study's social systems. Of the students and
faculty surveyed, 28.6% used micros and the social network for
micros was found to be generally established. However, vendor
communication with clients was perceived as not very effective
even though clients perceived vendors to have empathy and
homophily.
Four factors were perceived to hinder micro diffusion: limited
availability of Arabic micro literature; limited availability of
university courses about micros; limited services including
maintenance, training, and consultation; and lack of public
awareness. Conversely, the following problems were found:
abnormal, vague appearance of Arabic characters on the screen;
lack of Arabic software; confusing Arabic computer terminology;
and difficulty programming in Arabic. The absence of copyright
policy for software was also determined to affect the development
of software.
AN This item is not available from University Microfilms International
ADG05-62889.
AU HOPKINS, RICHARD LEONARD.
IN University of Toronto (Canada) Ph.D 1988.
TI THE INFORMATION-SEEKING BEHAVIOUR OF LITERARY SCHOLARS IN CANADIAN
UNIVERSITIES.
DE Library Science.
AB The descriptive objective of the study was to test nine
assumptions about the information seeking behaviour of Canadian
literary scholars. The analytical objective was to explain
different degrees of campus library use by these scholars, first
by examining the effect of a wide number of social, situational,
attitudinal and perceptual variables, then by developing three
multiple regression models, one for the entire sample of scholars,
one for a subgroup using primary materials in their work "often"
or "occasionally," and one for a subgroup using primary materials
"seldom" or "never." The models were also used to test a theory
that there is an interaction effect between the norms imposed on
information seeking by a discipline or a sub-discipline, the
individual scholar's own attitude toward information seeking, and
amount of campus library use.
The population for the study was over 1,000 literary scholars
teaching at 35 Canadian universities. Following interviews and a
pre-test, a questionnaire survey was mailed to a random sample of
250 scholars for which a response rate of 64% was achieved.
A number of long-held assumptions about the information seeking
behaviour of literary scholars were supported by the findings of
the study; e.g. that literary scholars are reluctant to delegate
searching and that informal communication is not of great
importance to them. A number of other assumptions, however, were
not supported by the findings: e.g. that browsing is an important
way of locating information and that literary scholars are
skeptical about the value of using computers in bibliographic
searching.
The regression models developed for the two sub-groups of scholars
were the most successful. The model developed for those scholars
who used primary source materials in their work "often" or
"occasionally" contained six variables and explained 62% of the
variance of campus library use. The model developed for those
scholars who used primary source materials "seldom" or "never"
contained two variables and explained 44% of the variance of
campus library use. The models further revealed that the attitude
of the individual scholar toward information seeking was a good
predictor of campus library use for those scholars who were judged
to be working in areas with weak norms governing information
seeking behaviour (those who used primary source materials
"seldom" or "never" in their work) and a poor predictor for those
scholars working in areas judged to have strong norms governing
information seeking behaviour (those who used primary source
materials "often" or "occasionally" in their work).
AN University Microfilms Order Number ADG88-02459.
AU MACIUSZKO, KATHLEEN LYNN.
IN Case Western Reserve University Ph.D 1987, 320 pages.
TI HARDCOPY VERSUS ONLINE SEARCHING: A STUDY IN RETRIEVAL EFFECTIVENESS.
DE Library Science.
AB This study examined retrieval effectiveness from the perspective
of hardcopy and online searching. The experiment tested the
following hypothesis: Hardcopy searching is a more effective way
to search by subject for bibliographic information than is online
searching. Its primary aim was to determine which mode was more
effective for processing queries of the type commonly encountered
in a general reference department of an academic or public
library.
This study made use of two equivalent databases to study two
different modes of retrieval, and concentrated on information
sources available to the general public as opposed to a
specialized audience such as scientists.
The methodology involved three steps: creating a set of questions,
searching them in hardcopy indexes and their online counterparts,
and evaluating the results. Six different college students
furnished 22 test questions. Two students formulated 8 questions
covering the field of biology. Two others supplied 7 questions in
the field of business. Another 2 formulated questions of popular
interest. Librarians in academic and public libraries searched the
22 test questions in hardcopy bibliographic indexes and their
equivalent online versions for a two-year period. The experiment
yielded a total of 88 search results. The following H. W. Wilson
indexes and their online counterparts (available through
Wilsonline) were used: Biological & Agricultural Index, Business
Periodicals Index, and Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature.
In general, the findings did not support the assumption that
hardcopy searching produced better search results than online
searching. It was not a more effective way to search by subject
for bibliographic information than was online.
The most striking finding of the experiment was that neither mode
of searching offered an overall noteworthy advantage over the
other. It was interesting to note that there was very little
duplication of citations between the modes and that retrieval
results were low for both modes. Neither finding was new with
regard to online searches. However, placed in the framework of
this experiment, they gain added significance because the same
results surfaced with respect to the hardcopy searches. Without a
doubt, regardless of the mode, the effectiveness level of
information retrieval systems is not where it should be. (Abstract
shortened with permission of author.).
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END OF IRList Digest
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