The availability and use of computers in teaching has seen an increase in the rate of plagiarism among students because of the wide availability of electronic texts online. While computer tools that have appeared in recent years are capable of detecting simple forms of plagiarism, such as copy-paste, a number of recent research studies devoted to…

Discussion of the use of search output clustering as an alternative representation method to ranked output focuses on difficulties involved in representing clusters for Internet users' evaluation in a concise and easily interpretable form. Describes findings and user feedback from a user study that investigated the effectiveness of search output…

Some problems arising in the combination of discipline-oriented retrieval systems for the purpose of constructing a specialized retrieval system for a multidisciplinary topic are considered. A compromise solution involving an augmented combined index is suggested. (4 references) (Author/NH)

Citing examples, this article asserts that the Bureau of Indian Affairs restricts access to historical records and that its personnel in the Records Research Office are not trained as historians or archivists but as clerk typists. (JC)

Describes in detail the practice of information retrieval within business organizations based on 46 interviews. Highlights include the importance of text to the performance of information work rather than technical aspects of retrieval; information management; and information retrieval problems in organizations. (LRW)

Drawing upon an efficacious method for discovering previously unknown causes of medical syndromes and searching in the Humanities Index, an illuminating new humanities analogy between the epistemological ideas of Robert Frost and the ancient Greek philosopher Carneades was found by constructing a search statement in which proper names were coupled…

An analysis of the punctuation of the eighth edition Library of Congress Subject Headings reveals that the hyphen, coma and parentheses are most often used. Examples of these and the use of the apostrophe, dash, and period are discussed. (Author/MBR)

There are two principal aspects of automation: the theoretical, or systems area, and the practical or production side. This paper outlines the lessons learned and the problems encountered in planning and implementing an automation program. (Author/NH)

The difficulties of readily obtaining peripheral information and drawbacks of citation searches are discussed. A citation survey of inorganic chemistry journals is compared with previous studies. The publication of a chemical newspaper is proposed. (11 references) (Author)

Addresses the application of automatic classification methods to the problems associated with computerized document retrieval. Different kinds of classifications are described, and both document and term clustering methods are discussed. References and notes are provided. (Author/JD)

Provides a brief overview of advances in electronic technologies during the past five years in the processing, storage, and transmission of information. The author also comments on software implementors, systems designers, management teams, and their organizations, and notes some problems. (Author/JD)

Discusses how information technology and information retrieval may be used to build the virtual library, based on examples from Carnegie-Mellon University. Topics include information technology infrastructure, including distributed computing; Boolean searching; natural language processing; navigating the Internet; and prototypes and problems at…

Discusses problems of matching personal names in information systems and factors influencing design of personal name matching algorithms. Several examples of name matching systems in the fields of art history, bibliography, commerce, genealogy, and law enforcement used for the purposes of authority control, information retrieval, and duplicate…

Examines the challenges involved in conducting an informal usability case study based on the introduction of a new information-retrieval system to experienced users. Identifies problems users were having with TREC (Text Retrieval Conference) and examines the usability of the new ZPRISE interface. (Author/LRW)

Presents a review of three major strategies for learning and information retrieval useful for learners in coping with typical problems in unstructured hypermedia. Strategies for goal attainment, spatial orientation, and knowledge acquisition are discussed, and future research on learning strategies for hypermedia is suggested. (Author/LRW)