The technique developed in this research paper for analyzing the information in charts and graphs is designed to reveal design flaws in the display that may prevent them from conveying information effectively. This analytic scheme requires isolating four types of constituents in a display and specifying their structure and interrelations at the…

Discusses aspects of the syntax and semantics of film, and presents a scenario for the use of film by intelligent computer assisted instruction (ICAI) systems. An outline of a representation language for educational films on videodisc is presented, and an appendix provides conceptual graphs that explain notations used in examples. (Author/LRW)

Describes an expected precision (EP) measure designed to predict document retrieval performance. Highlights include decision theoretic models; precision and recall as measures of system performance; EP graphs; relevance feedback; and computing the retrieval status value of a document for two models, the Binary Independent Model and the Two Poisson…

Reviews the Linked Systems project protocols in the Name Authority Distribution Application and describes the requirements they were designed to meet. A technical evaluation of the protocols in actual operation at OCLC is presented, and suggestions for improved performance are made. (Author/CLB)

Frequency-of-circulation distributions from 16 United Kingdom libraries participating in initial period of operation of the Public Lending Right are discussed. Differences between the libraries are highlighted, and, for each, the adequacy of various refinements of the simplest model (geometric distribution, negative binomial distribution, or mixed…

This article adopts "citation approach" to distinguish interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary research (IDR) from monodisciplinary research and begins to descrie how IDR differs from other research. Ten-year citation histories were constructed for sample of 1981 "citation classics" (over-cited articles) and examined for…

Review of recent developments in statistical theories for social sciences highlights Haitun's statistical distributions, Laplace's "Law of Succession" and distribution, Laplace and Bradford analysis of book-index data, inefficiency of frequency distribution analysis, Laws of Bradford and Zipf, natural categorization, and Bradford Law and…

Described is the use of two types of physical sensors, a motion sensor, and a light gate, which enable the microcomputer to be used as a measuring instrument for practical experiments on motion. (KR)

Discusses the use and interpretation of multiple regression analysis with computer programs and presents a flow chart of the process. A general explanation of the flow chart is provided, followed by an example showing the development of a linear equation which could be used in estimating manufacturing overhead cost. (Author/LRW)

This summary reports the highlights of a survey on microcomputer usage in institutions of higher education which was sponsored in part by EDUCOM. Software issues are emphasized, including assistance in evaluation, integrating software into the curriculum, and policy and procedures concerning illegal access and duplication. (LRW)

Examines the relationship that might exist between knowledge structure and learning and teaching styles. Discussion includes the Psycho-Epistemic Profile, which measures the process of knowing, and a study of relationships between teachers' and students' psycho-epistemic styles and preferred subject matter, and differences between psycho-epistemic…

Determined is the logical reasoning necessary to construct line graphs including a straight line with a positive or negative slope and an exponentially increasing curve. The responses of subjects (grades 6-12) were classified into one of nine categories fitting with Piagetian operational structures. (Author/YP)

This paper is a preliminary inquiry by a non-mathematician into graphic methods of sequential planning and ways in which hierarchical analysis and tree structures can be helpful in developing interest in the use of mathematical modeling in the search for creative solutions to real-life problems. Highlights include a discussion of hierarchical…

In order to investigate the nature of character portrayals in U.S. television commercials, a content analysis was done on a random sample of 2,604 U.S. television commercials which were videotaped in March 1981. This analysis included both demographic characteristics and more subtle aspects of gender differences, such as concerns, relationships…

The Hepatitis Knowledge Base (text of prototype information system) was used for modifying and testing "A Navigator of Natural Language Organized (Textual) Data" (ANNOD), a retrieval system which combines probabilistic, linguistic, and empirical means to rank individual paragraphs of full text for similarity to natural language queries…