The main conclusions are: the human factor appears to be the main variable in all components of an information retrieval system; length of indexes affects performance considerably more than indexing languages; question analysis and search strategies affect performance to a great extent - as much, if not more than indexing. (Author/MF)

Proposes a summarization system for multiple documents that employs named entities and other signatures to cluster news from different sources, as well as punctuation marks, linking elements, and topic chains to identify the meaningful units (MUs). Using nouns and verbs to identify similar MUs, focusing and browsing models are applied to represent…

Reports experiments with a term weighting model incorporating relevance information in which it is assumed that index terms are distributed dependently. It is argued that, if high recall searches are required, relevance feedback based on the modified dependence model may be superior to the Boolean search. (Author/VT)

Presents a model of human information needs which classifies information need types by their inherent properties. The influence of information needs on human behavior, and the need to incorporate this concept into information storage and retrieval systems, are discussed. (15 references) (CLB)

Discussion of user-relevance judgments in information retrieval focuses on findings from four separate studies of relevance judgments by 55 users conducting their initial online search on a particular information problem. Highlights include a theoretical framework, models of relevance, and implications for information-retrieval system design and…

Describes rough sets theory and discusses the advantages it offers for information retrieval, including the implicit inclusion of Boolean logic, term weighting, ranked retrieval output, and relevance feedback. Rough set formalism is compared to Boolean, vector, and fuzzy models of information retrieval and a small scale evaluation of rough sets is…

Describes the three subsystems of an information retrieval system (document descriptions, queries, and matching algorithms) and argues that the interdependency of these subsystems requires adaptation for the system to perform when any component changes. An algorithm for redescribing documents, in response to changes in queries and retrieval rules,…

This paper presents the design of an Internet-enabled search service that supports educational resource discovery within an educational brokerage service. More specifically, it presents the design and implementation of a metadata-driven approach to implementing the distributed search and retrieval of Internet-based educational resources and…

Outlines a behavioral approach to information retrieval system design based on the derivation of a behavioral model of the information-seeking patterns of academic social scientists. The extent to which identified information-seeking characteristics are supported by existing systems is considered, and requirements for implementing these features…

Reports on a project that proposes and tests a comprehensive and systematic model of user evaluation of Web search engines. This article describes the model, including a set of criteria and measures and a method for implementation. A literature review portrays settings for developing the model and places applications of the model in contemporary…

Describes two research projects based on QUEST and proposes an information handling model. Design, interrogation, and evaluation of data files are discussed relative to restraints imposed by child's developmental stage and nature of software employed. Implications of computer-related information handling for curriculum design and children's…

A digital computer based biomedical information system was designed to service the needs of physicians engaged in patient care and clinical research, and scientists engaged in laboratory research. The system embraces all functions of information processing which include information collection, storage, retrieval, analyses and display. The…

Summarizes the historical trend of distributing computer power within universities, and describes a model for an information technology environment for higher education. Based on a broad distribution of information and computing power, this model allows users to share information using micro- and minicomputers. (CLB)

RESULTS ARE REPORTED OF A STUDY OF THE FEASIBILITY OF A NATIONAL ADULT EDUCATION INFORMATION CENTER, IN WHICH IT WAS PROPOSED TO (1) STUDY INFORMATION PROBLEMS AND RESOURCES IN ADULT EDUCATION AND RECOMMEND NEW SERVICES WHICH WOULD BE MOST USEFUL TO THE FIELD , (2) DEVELOP THE TOOLS OF SUBJECT ANALYSIS WHICH WOULD BE NEEDED IN THESE SERVICES, AND…