This article reports on an exploratory study of the measurement of commonality in the use of variables or measures by authors and groups of authors who have reported on studies of information retrieval system users. There is some similarity to co-citation analysis in that, when two individual papers, or two authors over several works, use the same variables, this indicates a similarity in approach to the subject. Such usage may be a stronger indication of similarity than co-citation because it represents what the authors did, rather than what they say.

This article is a reminiscence of the author's career in information science, with emphasis on the temper of the times rather than specific technical or theoretical developments. The author reviews his transition from mathematics to computer programming to information retrieval; various projects he was involved with, such as the SAGE air defense system, a demonstration of information retrieval for the Department of State, several projects for intelligence agencies; and IIDA, an early user interface for database searchers; plus teaching, writing, and editing experiences. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

This article reports on a project undertaken to compare the behavior of two types of users with two types of information retrieval interfaces. The user types were search process specialists and subject matter domain specialists with no prior online database search experience. The interfaces were native DIALOG, which uses a procedural language, and OAK, a largely menu-based, hence nonprocedural language interface communicating with DIALOG. Three types of data were recorded: logs automatically recorded by computer monitoring of all searches, results of structured interviews with subjects at the time of the searches, and results of focus group discussions after all project tasks were completed. The type of user was determined by a combination of prior training, objective in searching, and subject domain knowledge. Our results show that the type of interface does affect performance and that users adapt their behavior to interfaces differently. Different combinations of search experience and domain knowledge will lead to different behavior in use of an information retrieval system. Different kinds of users can best be served with different kinds of interfaces. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

A natural language interface, named PBS, to a bibliographic information retrieval system, is described, which receives natural language search statements from an end-user and identifies search facets and implied Boolean logic operators. The program is intended for use in conjunction with an intermediary program (OAK) for online database searching, operating in a user's personal computer. Such a program must be fast and make minimal demands on memory, which places severe restrictions on storage of dictionaries and thesauri needed for full natural language interpretation. This initial version deals with a single domain, bibliographic files, almost all of which use the same attributes, such as subject, author, or journal name. The objective of PBS is to identify terms in a natural language query, classify them by attribute, recognize the boolean logic stated or implied, conflate terms that have minor spelling variations, and present the terms to the intermediary program, organized by facet or term category. In testing, the main difficulty resulted from false identification of journal names. Yet, in light of the editorial capabilities of OAK, which allow a user to correct a query before it is given to an IRS, PBS can be regarded as a workable natural language interface that can alleviate some of the problems inherent in native command languages. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

We report on a two-year project funded by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a set of microcomputer-based training and assistance programs to support end user access to the Energy Database on the DOE information retrieval systems. We studied the information needs and information-seeking habits of energy researchers and then designed a set of programs tailored to their skill levels and needs. The software was developed in several iterations, with laboratory testing after each cycle. We learned that it was possible to construct a 10- to 15-minute instructional program and an automated assistance program that would allow most of the experimental users to conduct a reasonable search. However, the searches tended to be overly complex and problems with term selection remain. We discuss the issues in development, evaluation, and the study of user behavior in designing an interface tailored to a special population. © 1989 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

The project Online Access to Knowledge (OAK) has developed a computer intermediary for selected users of the Department of Energy's DOE/RECON and BASIS online information retrieval systems. Its purpose is to enable people who have little or no training or experience in bibliographic searching to conduct their own searches, without the assistance of a trained librarian, hence permitting the user to work in both a place and time of his or her choosing. The purpose of this article is to report on the design and the rationale for the design. OAK software consists of both a tutorial and an assistance program. The latter does not employ a command language, hence obviates the need for a searcher to learn the formal language usually associated with an online database search service. It is central to our approach that this system does not supplant the user's ultimate primacy in knowing what he or she is looking for, nor in judging the results. © 1989 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Information networks allow not only for sharing of the content of information, but also of the physical facilities of transmission and processing. As networks develop they cause changes in the environments they serve, and this in turn causes demand for more change in the network facilities. This article reviews some of the past changes and looks to the nature of adaptation to be required of network participants in the future. © 1986 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

With the increasing number of information retrieval systems and databases available and the increasing demand of end users to utilize the systems, a need exists for improved interfaces and improved training mechanisms. This paper reports on a project to develop an integrated online instruction and assistance system to be used as a “front end” to the U.S. Department of Energy's RECON retrieval system. The conceptual framework for the interface design is based on individual characteristics of its current and prospective users, predominantly scientists conducting energy research. We are building a prototype based on information gained from interviews with scientists using the system (either directly or through a search intermediary) and interviews with search intermediaries. The paper reports on research in progress, including the results of the interviews and the preliminary design of the interface. The conference presentation will include a fuller description of the interface than can be specified here.

Abstract A study was conducted of users of an interactive database search system in order to obsenre and measure how they adapted to the system, which was new to them. Subjects were selected from three categories of prior computer experience and each was assigned to use one of three search languages which varied in complexity or logical power. All searched the same database of newspaper clippings. User performance appears to be a function of how well suited the language is to the user and the problem being addressed, rather than either language complexity or user experience, alone. A major conclusion is that languages should be designed to suit recognizable classes of users, rather than all users as a whole.

Abstract This is the first of two articles that report on the development, testing, and evaluation of the Individualized Instruction for Data Access System (IIDA). IIDA is an ex. ample of a class of computer systems which serve as intermediaries, enabling their users to perform a complex task on another computer, and which are coming to be known as expert systems. The system was designed to encourage end users of information retrieval systems to perform their own searches by (1) instructing them in how to search, using computer‐assisted instruction, and (2) assisting with the performance of the search by providing diagnostic analyses of the users' performance as well as answering their questions about how to use system commands. The system's design is described, as well as the various tests of its performance and the evaluation of test results. The conclusion is drawn that end users can become successful searchers through such an assistant, for the kinds of searches tested.

Abstract This is the second of two articles describing the development, testing, and evaluation of the Individualized Instruction for Data Access System (IIDA). The system was tested in an industrial setting and it was demonstrated that (1) end users of scientific and technical literature could learn to do their own bibliographic searches through computer‐assisted instruction as well as they learned through a comparable period of conventional instruction, and (2) end users were as satisfied with the results of their own searchings as with the result of searches performed for them, for the types of searches tested.

Abstract Statistics on the nationality, society memberships, and citation patterns of JASIS and other information science journal authors are presented, together with data concerning elapsed time between initial receipt of a manuscript and its publication.

Abstract This paper is a survey of a number of issues that are concerned with information science, of importance outside the field as well as within, and generally caused by or related to changes in technology. Issues are considered in four broad categories, those concerned with computers, communications, image recording and information content. Their importance lies in the fact that how they are resolved will affect the transition of the United States from a primarily industrial to a post industrial society. The intent of the article is to present the issues and their possible impact rather than to offer solutions.