bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Socially responsible behaviour: values and attitudes of the alternative trading organisation consumer
Authors: Dickson Marsha A. , Littrell Mary A.
Published: January 2008

The purpose of this study was to examine whether consumers' intentions to purchase apparel products from an alternative trading organisation (ATO; an example of socially responsible consumer behaviour) could be explained by their societally‐centred values and attitudes, as well as attitudes more specifically related to purchasing. Data were collected with a nationwide mail survey of US consumers (n =344) randomly drawn from the stratified mailing list of one North American ATO. Theory‐based relationships, suggesting a hierarchical system of effects among values and atti‐tudes, were tested and supported with path analysis. Comparison of two different path models revealed that attitude towards the behaviour of purchasing apparel from the ATO was a better predictor of purchase behaviour than was attitude towards the apparel itself; however, the two concepts were determined to each contribute valuable information for understanding purchasing behaviour.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, POWER AND MANAGERS
Authors: Wynne Brian , Otway Harry J.
Published: January 2008

Although the most significant economic benefits of using new information technology in organisations will come from increasing the productivity of well‐paid managers, research has centred on its effects on secretaries and clerical workers. The authors explore implications for managers, contrasting the social realities of organisations and information with the tacit assumptions of the classical models upon which systems design is often based. This analysis suggests that systems incorporating unrealistic assumptions may not allow middle managers to exercise sufficient autonomy, leading to a cycle of de‐skilling and alienation, while exerting destructive stresses on top managers. Achieving the full potential of the technology will require a greater awareness of organisational realities and the open negotiation of the bases of power and authority.
PROCEDURES AND PROBLEMS IN THE OFFICE
Authors: Suchman Lucy , Wynn Eleanor
Published: January 2008

Clerical workers in an office scheduled for the installation of an office information system were interviewed regarding the social and technical organization of their work. The interviews were designed to disclose some of the actual practices involved in accomplishing procedural tasks. An analysis of the interview responses focusses on three requirements of procedural work: (1) the application of general guidelines to the problems of particular cases, (2) the co‐ordination of actions and revisions with other participants in a transaction, both within the office and outside, and (3) accomodation to the practical exigencies of handling paper documents. The conclusion suggests some broad implications of these issues of procedural work in a traditional office environment for the design of office information systems.
PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF WORKING LIFE FOR OFFICE PRINCIPALS AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR OFFICE AUTOMATION
Authors: Kaye A.R. , Sutton M.J.D.
Published: January 2008

In the first part of this article models for productivity and the quality of working life are developed that show that there are a number of common elements, particularly those related to motivation. On the basis of a review of the published literature of case histories, as well as those cases with which we are familiar from our own experience, it seems clear that job satisfaction is the most significant sociological factor in enhancing productivity, and the quality of working life, especially for professional and management workers. In addition, it seems clear that a sense of autonomy and achievement are probably the most significant elements of job satisfaction and that, at least for this category of workers, productivity and the quality of working life are complementary objectives whose realisation may best be achieved together. We support this theme by analysing a number of case histories on the basis of the job satisfaction model. Finally, we suggest that careful attention should be paid, in the earliest stages of setting objectives, and later in planning for office automation, to identifying the types and levels of job satisfaction needs that are important for the staff to be supported with technology. It is important that management's objectives in this respect should be explicitly stated so that the technology may be specified and designed in such a way that the desired objectives are met.
TURNING CASES INTO DATA
Authors: Levinson Eliot
Published: January 2008

This article demonstrates a method of implementation path analysis, which can be used as a data collection and analysis technique for conducting and comparing longitudinal case studies of technology introduction. The method is used to structure and supplement, rather than supplant, traditional case studies; it translates the thick description of case studies into quantifiable data. Examples which demonstrate the use of the method are used to show patterns within one case over time; across cases to develop hypotheses and focus; and to create generalizations from a set of cases. The main feature of the method is that it considers the individual decision or event, rather than a total case as the unit of analysis.
SYSTEMS DESIGN AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF “COMPUTER‐SUPPORTED COOPERATIVE WORK”
Authors: Howard Robert
Published: January 2008

The first‐ever conference on “computer‐supported cooperative work” (CSCW) defined a new perspective and perhaps even a new speciality in the field of computer science. The fundamental insight is that, with very few exceptions, our work does not take place in isolation but, rather, is embedded in a multiplicity of social contexts. And this, obviously, has enormous implications for how information technology is conceived and designed.
IMPACTS OF COMPUTER‐MEDIATED HOME‐BASED WORK ON WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES
Authors: Christensen Kathleen E.
Published: January 2008

The major conclusions of this study of professional and clerical women who work at home are as follows. Women who work at home as a way of balancing child care and paid employment typically live in traditional two‐parent households, where the father is the major breadwinner. These women work part‐time, primarily for “bonus” money and the psychological benefits of doing something other than being a full‐time home‐maker and mother. Second, they do not work and care for their children simultaneously. They most often work when their partners can care for the children, or when their children are at school or asleep. When a professional woman has dependable, steady work, she is apt to employ paid child care. Third, corporations that hire home‐based workers as independent contractors run the risk of creating second‐class corporate citizens.
AN ERGONOMIC EVALUATION OF OFFICE CHAIRS
Authors: Helander Martin G. , Czaja Sara J. , Drury Colin G. , Cary James M. , Burri George
Published: January 2008

Ten ergonomic office chairs, chosen from a sample of eighty‐four, were evaluated in an ergonomic field study. Twenty office employees used each of the chairs for one day. The chairs were evaluated using four different subjective methods: body part discomfort, general comfort rating, a chair feature evaluation checklist, and a ranking procedure. The chair users generally had difficulties in perceiving and expressing comfort and discomfort which was required in the two first methods. The latter methods produced more informative results including significant differences between the chairs. The study identified several distinct features related to chair comfort including the design of the seat pan, back rest, arm rests, and ease of adjustability.
Analysis and design of computer systems supporting complex administrative work processes
Authors: Bødker Keld
Published: January 2008

The paper deals with techniques and tools for developing computer systems to be used within complex administrative work processes. The characteristics of contemporary system development methods are presented and illustrated by a review of SA/SD. This shows a great demand for complementary techniques and tools for analysis and design to provide a sounder basis for the development of information systems. Basic characteristics of such techniques and tools are then described in terms of their perspective on organizations and on the development process and in terms of a framework for guidelines for analysis and design.
Systems development in Scandinavia: three theoretical schools
Authors: Bansler Jørgen
Published: January 2008

Scandinavian research in systems development can be grouped into three major traditions, based on quite different ideologies and theories: the systems theoretical school, the socio‐technical school and the critical school. The differences between these schools are closely related to the historical and social contexts in which they developed. External political, economic and cultural factors have strongly influenced research in this field. In particular, the basic theoretical differences between the schools reflect their different interpretations of the relationship between capital and labour.
A humanistic approach to systems development
Authors: Lytje Inger
Published: January 2008

This article offers a humanistic approach to the development of computer‐based information systems. A theoretical framework for conceiving innovative processes as a whole is outlined. This approach interprets technology in relation to work, knowledge, and basic values. Within this framework, a methodology of systems development is sketched. This methodology is based on experience obtained through developing knowledge‐based systems for use in language research and teaching. Systems development processes are conceived as thought processes, epistemic processes, communicative processes, and learning processes. It is argued that the experience gained from the language project could be applied to other areas of work.
OFFICE AUTOMATION: PRODUCTIVITY, EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL IMPACTS
Authors: Coates Vary T.
Published: January 2008

We are seeing a basic transformation of the technology underlying one of our most fundamental economic activities, information handling. In particular, that major part of information handling that we call “office work” (in both industry and government offices) is being automated. Office automation is not just an incremental improvement in office equipment, analogous to electric typewriters and bookkeeping machines, and it is not accomplished by installing hardware, even complex electronic systems. It also requires redefining work and tasks, and restructuring the work flow and the work organization to fit the logic of the computer and the full range of its capabilities.
Strategically communicating organisational change
Authors: Clampitt Phillip G. , Berk Laurey R.
Published: January 2008

The purpose of this paper is to help organisations implement change more effectively. One key to this process is communication. The paper suggests a series of critical questions designed to help initiators of change develop a strategic communication plan. Four stages of the planning process are discussed: contextual analysis, audience analysis, strategic design and tactical development. A case study is presented in which the planning model was used as a focal point for a reengineering project.
Holding a successful media event in Russia
Authors: Derman Jeffrey A.
Published: January 2008

The paper is based on the author's experience of organising media events for product launches in Russia. After providing a brief introduction to Russian press and broadcast media, the paper gives advice on holding a successful media event in Russia under six headings on: working with suppliers; targeting the appropriate media; choice of venue; the target audience; food and drink; and rehearsal.
Three perspectives of the media‐organisation relationship: Media personnel, corporate spokespersons and CEOs look at the role of the corporate spokesperson
Authors: Warburton Terrence L. , Troester Rod
Published: January 2008

While the importance of the corporate spokesperson in the media‐organisation relationship is consistently recognised in the literature, little is known in terms of the actual practices and perceptions of the various parties involved. Based on a survey of media personnel, corporate spokesperson and CEOs, this paper identifies the respective perceptions and discusses their implications.
Corporate governance — The communications challenges
Authors: Lewis Simon
Published: January 2008

The issue of corporate governance has been high on the agenda of the business community for several years but is likely to be a defining issue of the late 1990s. The paper examines its history and discusses its relevance for communications professionals.
The inter‐subjective and the social systemic public relations paradigms
Authors: Holmström Susanne
Published: January 2008

To get beneath the surface of the focal concepts of public relations practice today, the major sociological theories of Jürgen Habermas and Niklas Luhmann have been fruitful as frames of interpretation. Two paradigms for reflection on the public relations phenomenon have been developed on their theories: the inter‐subjective and the social systemic public relations paradigms. These paradigms indicate fundamentally different interpretations of the concepts of conflict and social responsibility, with crucial consequences for the role of public relations in today's social order. Each perspective has its blind spots but the switching of perspectives allows us to see more. Habermas's theories make it possible to disclose the ideal perception which seems to prevail in the self‐understanding of public relations practice while, at the same time, setting out normative ideals for the practice. The ideal in the inter‐subjective paradigm is to re‐establish the system's coupling to the lifeworld. The public relations practitioner must act as an individual through communicative action. Public relations is a matter of ethical issues in a normative perspective. We might also call this the ethical, communicative or normative paradigm of public relations. The keyword is legitimation in post‐conventional discourse society. Luhmann's theories make it possible to disclose the social systemic mechanisms that can be viewed as the framework for public relations practice, and to set out functional conditions for that practice. The functions of the social systemic paradigm are to assist in maintaining the boundaries of the organisation system through strategic reflection and to assist in ensuring that society's differentiated system logics can function autonomously because they also understand how to function together. The sphere of action of the public relations practitioner is defined by the social systems. Public relations is a matter of functional issues in a cognitive perspective. We might also call this the functional, reflective or cognitive paradigm of public relations. The keyword is public trust in the context‐regulated society. This paper is based on a thesis by the author entitled: ‘The Inter‐subjective and the Social Systemic Public Relations Paradigms’, University of Roskilde, April 1996, also to be published in English.
Directors' Guide: Better Communications for NHS Trusts'
Authors: Hogg Gillian , Moloney Kevin , Miller David , Mallinson W.D.E.
Published: January 2008

Communication, like quality or professionalism, is one of those words that is constantly bandied around without ever being properly considered; they are universally considered to be a ‘good thing’, the motherhood and apple pie concepts of modern management. By the same token any publication that is designed to help managers, especially managers of NHS Trusts to improve their communication skills must also be considered to be a good idea and of benefit to managers. Whether this slim guide, however, is the best way to achieve better communications for NHS Trusts is debatable. The stated aim of the publication is to provide a ‘short but comprehensive overview of modern communications principles and practice and to show how these can be applied to NHS Trust management’. It would be more accurate to say that this is a short guide to the different terms used to describe communications. This booklet does not provide any real practical guidance on how to apply these techniques in the NHS, or perhaps more importantly, any strategic direction for Trusts which want to improve their communications.
Measuring and managing stakeholder relations
Authors: Clarke Thomas
Published: January 2008

The current popularity of the idea of stakeholding is partly because it can mean all things to all men. Clearly, defining the different meanings of stakeholding helps to make it a practical tool of management. The first task is to examine who the significant stakeholders of the company are, then to engage in a dialogue to discover what it is they value. By measuring performance improvement in delivering value to all stakeholders, not only can companies become more inclusive, they can also achieve more sustainable business success.
The power of storytelling when cultures merge
Authors: Harben John
Published: January 2008

This paper uses ideas of ‘organisational storytelling’ and three ‘domains’ to create the author's own stories about the role of organised communication in a major corporate merger. The author draws on his first‐hand experience as one of the two directors of internal communication in the UK's largest merger, between his company Grand Metropolitan plc (GrandMet) and Guinness plc that completed on 17th December, 1997; and, second, on 11 years of working as an external communication (PR) professional alongside corporate financiers in some high profile ‘deals’ of the 1980s, including the British Telecommunications privatisation (1984), and the vote of members and subsequent flotation of Abbey National (1989–90).
Competitive advantage, corporate governance and reputation management: The case of Marks & Spencer
Authors: Beaver Graham
Published: January 2008

This paper examines the fundamental strategic issues of positioning and governance and their effect on the fortunes of the high street giant, Marks & Spencer, as it attempts to repair the damage caused to its performance and reputation following the events of the last year.
The ‘life of an issue’ and approaches to its control
Authors: Femers Susanne , Klewes Joachim , Lintemeier Klaus
Published: January 2008

The paper structures the life cycle of issues, thus allowing a systematic discussion of their practical aspects. It is designed to help public relations professionals handle issues by providing them with parameters that can be influenced systematically. The authors differentiate between four different phases in the life cycle of an issue: emergence, dissemination, establishment and erosion. These phases reflect the different degrees to which an issue penetrates society. An issue emerges when a ‘crystallisation’ and certain interpretation of a specific social reality comes out. Dissemination comes up when protagonists pick up the issue and disseminate it. The issue is established when it becomes known to a large part of society. And it undergoes erosion when public interest in the issue stagnates. In each of the four phases intermediary groups and media are involved in different ways and to different degrees. The issue's factual structure, ie the degree of complexity, is also different in each phase. Public relations professionals can systematically influence the different parameters in each phase of the issue: by doing this they gain improved control of the issues.
Do consumers really care about corporate responsibility? Highlighting the attitude—behaviour gap
Authors: Boulstridge Emma , Carrigan Marylyn
Published: January 2008

According to the press at the turn of the year 1999—2000, a good corporate reputation for responsible marketing is a key element in business success. One justification for this is the assumption that consumers are interested in how companies behave and this has an influence upon their consumption behaviour. There is also the suggestion that a financial pay‐off is to be gained from good behaviour. Conflicting reports in previous research cast doubt upon the reliability of these assumptions, and there are few studies which unequivocally support positive consumer purchasing in return for responsible marketing. This paper reviews current opinion and evidence in relation to the growing interest in corporate reputation, and reports findings from focus group research which casts doubt upon the efficacy of corporate reputation in influencing positive consumer purchase behaviour.
On‐line data base coverage of the on‐line information‐retrieval literature
Authors: Hawkins Donald T. , Miller Betty
Published: January 2008

The coverage of the literature on on‐line retrieval systems by eight major machine‐readable data bases was determined. A search profile executed on these data bases produced 397 unique references. Ranking the data bases by journal coverage, relevance percentage, and the number of relevant items retrieved only from that data base showed that at least six data bases needed to be searched to obtain a comprehensive bibliography. These six data bases, in order of productivity, are INSPEC, CA Condensates, Social Sciences Citation Index, ERIC, MEDLINE, and BIOSIS. The need for an on‐line data base in library and information science is discussed.
Standards for a user‐system interface language in on‐line retrieval systems
Authors: Atherton Pauline
Published: January 2008

Standards are generally accepted and documented sets of conditions to be fulfilled. They are of several kinds: dimensional, performance, testing, technical terms and symbols, and codes of practice. It is proposed that the conversational language used in interactive retrieval systems should become standard at least as far as the technical terms and symbols used by the user are concerned. If that effort is successful, a standards effort in the area of a code of practice or recommended methods for operation could be developed. Then, and only then, could dimensional standards (to secure exact interchangeability) be effected. In the opinion of the author, the other two areas of standards work (performance standards and testing standards) lie outside the effort of a standards sub‐committee working within the ANSI Z‐39 or X.3 areas, at least as it relates to a user language for interactive retrieval systems.
Computer‐aided searching in the INSPEC database
Authors: de Jong‐Hofman M.W.
Published: January 2008

The first part of the paper describes the results of an extensive search into two factors which effect, to a high degree, the efficiency of online information retrieval: (i) the manner by which classification codes and keywords are chosen as a means of retrieval by the reviewers of the reference work (ii) the degree in which papers with comparable contents are accorded similar keywords. The influence of these two factors on the practical results is shown by the example of extensive searches: these searches were done manually as well as online. It was concluded that the efficiency of the assigned keywords was very low, owing to their insufficient accuracy and the large number of synonyms, spellings and other words that there may be to express one idea. The purpose of the analysis as described in the second part of the paper is to examine the possibility of finding a good search strategy, in spite of the low efficiency of the assigned keywords, that costs little and has a high efficiency factor. Therefore, a three‐fold situation is examined: (i) the relationship of the search strategy to (ii) the factors affecting cost, and (iii) the efficiency of retrieval. The problems arising in choosing a search strategy are examined; 14 different methods were selected from the large number of possibilities to formulate a search. A method of calculating the factors which affect the connect‐time cost and the offprint costs is worked out. The various strategies, employed to achieve the greatest improvements in cost and efficiency, include classification codes and keywords (subject headings and free terms). This procedure was carried out via an ESA terminal. The results are presented in the form of tables comparing the size of the factors affecting the cost, the judged cost per relevant item and the efficiency of retrieval. The conclusion is that the best search consists of using the classification codes, including the subject, coupled with some carefully selected free terms, for the simplest method, the lowest cost and the highest efficiency of retrieval.
Hands on online: bringing it home
Authors: Caruso Elaine
Published: January 2008

In Part 1 of the paper, the problems a would‐be user faces in accessing the contents of machine stored bibliographic databases are assessed; the online search services solve part of the difficulty, but become part of the problem; current training techniques are summarized and evaluated, and ways of improving training are suggested. In Part 2 of the paper, a new training program is described, the Hands on online multisystem multidatabase trainer, which delivers the training to the home terminal of the trainee, and in which emulations of bibliographic retrieval systems are provided that accept commands, search files, provide messages and displays to mimic the operational services, and in which the user trainee can develop the same skills he would learn in the ‘real’ system. The program has optionally available practice and instructional modules that guide the user in the protocols of telecommunication services, computer log in, file selection, search term negotiation, logical statement structure, interpretation of system messages and displays, and formatting of output from the search. The program can be used as needed with either the emulators or the online system itself. Training and design goals are detailed; namely the use and availability of the trainer outside the university, experience, use, evaluation of the training, extension and future development.
Bibliometrics of the online information retrieval literature
Authors: Hawkins Donald T.
Published: January 2008

Some bibliometric characteristics of the literature of online information retrieval have been studied. A total of 1051 references in two recent bibliographies were examined. The literature grew rapidly from one paper in 1964 to 185 papers in 1975. The most rapid growth took place between 1970 and 1975. It appears that the annual growth rate has slowed since 1975. Most of the literature appeared as articles in 138 journals. 19 journals contained five or more papers each and contributed 392 papers (38% of the total). Papers on online information retrieval are dispersed in a wide variety of journals, many of them not devoted to library or information science. An unsuccessful attempt was made to apply Bradford's Law to the literature. A total of 1059 authors are cited in this literature. 22 of them contributed six or more papers each for a total of 206 papers (20% of the total). 369 of them published a paper in 1976 or 1977.
Planning search strategies for maximum retrieval from bibliographic databases
Authors: Adams Arthur L.
Published: January 2008

Methods for designing search strategies for maximum recall are discussed including minimizing the number of concepts intersected, isolating key subtopics, adapting the strategy to the database, and minimizing problems with search words and codes. Search results are analyzed to illustrate the effectiveness of these methods.
PASCAL database file description and online access on ESA/IRS
Authors: Pelissier Denise
Published: January 2008

PASCAL is the machine readable version of the well known French abstract journal Bulletin Signalètique. This article describes the primary sources, the file structure and all the data elements of a record. It reviews the inverted fields and the way to search them with the QUEST Software of ESA/IRS (European Space Agency/Information Retrieval System) and outlines the software possibilities (truncation, masks, conceptual logic, online ordering of original documents, etc…). Several examples of searches are given.
Implications of artificial intelligence for end user use of online systems
Authors: Smith Linda C.
Published: January 2008

At present the end user must often rely on an intermediary to make use of available online systems. Artificial intelligence (AI) holds the possibility of making systems accessible to a wider range of people. AI research is a branch of computer science which attempts to develop programs to enable computer systems to communicate more fluently, to explain why they have taken certain actions, to handle unforeseen situations, and to exhibit other similar signs of intelligent behavior. This paper reviews a number of studies which demonstrate how AI techniques can be applied in the design of end user‐oriented interfaces to existing online systems as well as in the development of future generations of online systems intended for the end user. Criteria proposed for user‐oriented systems are summarized and suggestions are given of the ways in which AI techniques may enable one to realize them. These criteria are found to focus on the language for man—machine communication and on approaches to delegating more aspects of the retrieval process to the system. Available technology such as intelligent terminals can be used to augment the interface of existing online systems by varying command languages and display formats. The features of two prototypes demonstrating this approach are described. AI work on man—machine communication and knowledge‐based systems which is likely to influence the design of future online systems is highlighted. Finally, Licklider's proposal for “procognitive systems” is recalled, and it is suggested that AI techniques provide indications of how such systems could eventually be built.
Database user aids and materials — a study
Authors: Unruh Betty
Published: January 2008

The types and numbers of database user support materials are multiplying as producers become more involved in the servicing of the user community and as the number of online databases grows. (Approximately 100 files are available now for online searching, and each month brings a few more on each of the systems.) Currently available materials can vary in cost, format, depth, and purpose. This paper is an assessment of the available materials, offering comments on both availability and cost as well as the relationship, if any, between the search materials and the topic area of the file or the organizational type of the producer. This paper does not attempt to evaluate content or measure quality; it discusses vendor‐produced materials only when a contrast between the two groups would be helpful.
‘Bradfordizing’ search output: how it would help online users
Authors: White Howard D.
Published: January 2008

A new option in resequencing output from online searches of journal literatures is proposed: computerized sorting of hits by the journals in which they appear, and then of journals, high to low, by the number of hits appearing in each. This two‐step operation is called ‘Bradfordizing’ since it ranks journals in order of their yields of hits, in the manner used by S. C. Bradford in formulating his much‐studied law. Benefits envisioned from Bradfordizing output include (1) an online summary report that would show, before hits were printed out, the journals involved in the retrieval and their respective yields; (2) capability to retrieve hits selectively by journal, based on the report; (3) capability to display certain statistics to help in making retrieval decisions, or in the interest of bibliometric research; and (4) printouts of hits arranged in a way that corresponds to journal runs on shelves, thereby helping librarians provide copies of desired items.
Online Teaching Aids from the Department of Information Science, University of Sheffield, England
Authors: Wood Frances E.
Published: January 2008

Four simulations of online services have been produced by students of the Department of Information Studies, University of Sheffield; FOSSILS, a simulation of Lockheed Dialog; BLAISERS, a simulation of BLAISE MARC information retrieval, editing MUTE, a simulation of BLAISE MEDLINE, and SSDC, a simulation of SDC. These have proved valuable in teaching use of a keyboard, basic commands and more advanced techniques. Written in BASIC, the programs have been transferred successfully to a wide range of computers including microcomputers, in several countries.
European online users: a mid‐1981 report
Authors: Collier Harry R.
Published: January 2008

A survey was made in the Spring/Summer of 1981 by Online Review of users of online services in Europe. Questionnaires were sent out to some 7,000 individuals. Replies were requested, and only accepted, on an organisation basis; some 497 organisations in Europe were represented in the analysis. Questions were asked to establish the nature, size and areas of interest of the respondent organisations, to establish equipment used and services used, to provide indications of the future plans of online users and to establish a profile of the typical terminal user. When analysed, it was ascertained that the users surveyed had been the users of the major international, bibliographic online services.
The role of the information specialist in academic research
Authors: Neway Julie M.
Published: January 2008

This case study investigated the role of an information specialist as an active team member in an academic scientific research setting. The information specialist attended weekly lab meetings for thirty‐nine scientists, who formed the experimental group, and answered any information requests they had during the ten month period from January to October, 1981. An additional twenty‐eight scientists served as a control group. The findings indicated that the information specialist was accepted as a team member. The scientists made extensive use of the information service and reported changes in their information habits. Online searches and personal files became important information sources. The service was given a very positive evaluation and most of the scientists wanted to see it continue.
Main trends in royalty policy of database producers
Authors: Wolff‐Terroine M. , Ghirardi L , Marx B.
Published: January 2008

On the basis of an international inquiry concerning databases, producers and royalties, a comparative study of the answers coming from Europe and from North America shows great differences between database characteristics, conditions of use and amounts of royalties. One of these differences concerns the actions of government and for‐profit organisations. The number of these organisations, their activity in subject, type and volume of information, their policies as to conditions of use and amount of royalties, explains the different levels and evolutions of the information industry in these different countries.
A practical stemming algorithm for online search assistance
Authors: Ulmschneider John E. , Doszkocs Jamas
Published: January 2008

Word truncation is a familiar technique employed by online searchers in order to increase recall in free text retrieval. The use of truncation, however, can be a mixed blessing since many words starting with the same root are not semantically or logically related. Consequently, online searchers often select words to be OR‐ed together from an alphabetic display of neighbouring terms in the inverted file in order to assure precision in the search. Automatic stemming algorithms typically function in a manner analogous to word truncation, with the added risk of the word roots being incorrectly identified by the algorithm. This paper describes a two‐phase stemming algorithm that consists of the identification of the word root and the automatic selection of ‘well‐formed’ morphological word variants from the actual inverted file entries that start with the same word root. The algorithm has been successfully used in an end‐user interface to NLM's Catline book catalog file.
Hedge trimming and the resurrection of the controlled vocabulary in online searching
Authors: Sievert MaryEllen , Boyce Bert R.
Published: January 2008

The traditional role of the controlled vocabulary has been to bring together items scattered by a multiplicity of natural language terms. Therefore, it was considered a recall device. The file structure of current online structure systems now leads to the use of such vocabularies as a precision device. Because of the levels of specificity in the controlled vocabulary, the search for broader concepts means several terms may be ncessary. In this case, the file structure of the retrieval systems requires that for efficient searching the entry points be analyzed and minimized. Complete, rather than partial, entry of controlled terms appears to be inefficient.
Numeric databases in the sciences
Authors: Meschel S.V.
Published: January 2008

Compilation of numeric data has been of interest to mankind since ancient times. Collections of astronomic observations permitted the production of systematic calendars for great nations like the Mayans, Egyptians, Babylonians and Jews. Extensive sets of data were available to early navigators and pioneer physicists of medieval times. A well known example of data compilation was the celebrated Alfonsine Tables. The tables were completed in 1252 under the direction of Isaac ben Said and Yehuda ben Moshe Cohen during the rule of Alfonso X. of Castile. For three hundred years this was considered to be the best planetary data collection. Another famous astronomical data compilation was Caroline Herschel's Catalogue of Stars published in 1798. In the last decade there has been an increased need for precise information by government agencies, private industries, the business world and academic institutions. The continuing acknowledgement of the need for quantitative data contributed to the quick development and marketing of many databases that contain numerical and other factual information.
The Source v. CompuServe
Authors: Falk Howard
Published: January 2008

Information utilities like The Source and CompuServe reach an audience of well‐educated and affluent micro/personal computer users. These users can be served in the context of their business/professional roles. They can also be attracted to the utilities in their roles as individual consumers. Both The Source and CompuServe provide services that are directed to each of these user‐roles. However, the emphasis in the two utilities is somewhat different.
Patron presence during the online search: attitudes of university librarians
Authors: Salomon Kristine , Burgess Curt
Published: January 2008

A controversial issue involving online searching is the presence of the patron during the search process. Searcher attitudes of patron presence were examined by use of a nationwide survey (N=198). It was found that 77% of the searchers preferred to have the patron present. Regression analysis indicated that two factors accounted for 72% of the variance of patron presence: the ability of the searcher to refine the search with the patron present and the searcher's time schedule allowing for patron presence. Only 16% of the searchers admitted to being nervous with the patron present. Concern about making spelling errors accounted for 44% of the variance of searcher nervousness.
An evaluation of document retrieval from serial files using the ICL Distributed Array Processor
Authors: Pogue Christine , Willett Peter
Published: January 2008

The ICL Distributed Array Processor, or DAP, is a single instruction stream, multiple data stream computer in which instructions are broadcast for simultaneous execution in each of 4096 processing elements. Although originally developed for numeric computation, the DAP also provides a means for the rapid matching of the term lists representing documents and queries in information retrieval systems, and this paper presents an investigation of the use of the DAP for the parallel searching of large serial files of documents. Best match retrieval experiments with three collections of documents and queries show that the DAP is very much more efficient than a conventional mainframe computer in calculating a measure of similarity between a query and each of the documents in a large collection. It is suggested that the DAP, or machines with similar architectures, could form the basis for interactive bibliographic searching of serial files.
Comparison and evaluation of nine bibliographies/ bibliographic databases in the field of computer science
Authors: Konings C.A.G.
Published: January 2008

Seven bibliographies/bibliographic databases have been analysed as regards their subject area, list of scanned periodicals, article coverage and overlap. These bibliographies are: A. Computer and information systems abstracts. B. Computer abstracts. C. ICP software directory. D. Computing reviews. E. Computer and control abstracts. F. Computer program abstracts. G. Bulletin signaletique, section 110. Only five bibliographies cover the whole of the subject area examined. A great difference exists between the number of periodicals scanned (73 to 2771) and between the percentage of articles included from six carefully selected periodicals (27% in D to 83% in G). This results in a small overlap between the examined bibliographies. Bibliography B selects most precisely, and in spite of the low number of periodicals scanned, B includes the highest number of unique references. E and G are the largest bibliographies, containing the whole subject area, and moreover they are the only ones searchable online. These are therefore compared with two other databases that contain at least a part of the examined subject area: H. Mathematical reviews. J. Zentralblatt für die Mathematik. The article coverage of H and J (resp. 41% and 48%) remains far below the article coverage of E and G (resp. 74% and 85%). From a small examination of the allocated indexing terms it appears that not one article has been assigned similar index words in the various bibliographies. Hence, for a reliable literature study the bibliographies/databases A, B, E, G, H and J all have to be searched, whilst the search profile has to be adapted for each bibliography.
REF‐11: A database for references
Authors: Faraone Maria
Published: January 2008

If you find yourself drowning in reference data, unable to organize information to your satisfaction, REF‐11 may be the package to help you. With REF‐11, users can set up a file of bibliographic references, and search the file. It is quite user friendly. An optional utility ($30) produces bibliographies from the files. A second utility ($25) stores text material in REF‐11 files.
Vertical integration: corporate strategy in the information industry
Authors: Davenport Lizzie , Cronin Blaise
Published: January 2008

The trend towards massification and consolidation in electronic publishing was observed by Schiller in 1980, and is confirmed in the base maps drawn by McLaughlin for the Harvard Program in Information Policy Research. Schiller found the already apparent massification of the communications industry worrying, as links between the US government and the two major players, IBM and AT & T, were strong and likely to increase.
Nine sources of problems for novice online searchers
Authors: Shaw Debora
Published: January 2008

With any new skill, the time comes when one must put together the various steps that have been practiced and actually ‘play the game’. For many students of library and information science, online searching is a new search for a ‘real world’ client. This paper describes some problems these novice searchers have in putting it all together.
Xworld: Communications plus word and background processing
Authors: Bell Steven
Published: January 2008

Xworld is a good communications package that is most suitable for users interested in sending and receiving binary files, and to a lesser degree text files, while interacting with a limited number of remote hosts. The package carries out file transfer tasks efficiently and quickly, allowing telecommunications costs to be reduced in some cases, but a copy of the package must be installed both at the user and the host computer. Added features, such as word and background processing, add to the value of the package.
Selection criteria for communications software
Authors: Nieuwenhuysen Paul
Published: January 2008

Microcomputers with communications software are replacing the older ‘dumb’ terminals for online access to databases on remote computers. Summarised, a microcomputer with communications software offers the following advantages:
Computer Database Advice Centre: the development of a new user service
Authors: Shearer James , Caporn Sue
Published: January 2008

Since its establishment in September 1986 at Ealing College of Higher Education, CDAC has presented seminars to selected groups of potential end users of online services — charity fundraisers, maternity organisations, trades union research officers and librarians, CNAA staff and other groups — with the aim of showing them what appropriate online services can offer. The paper examines how CDAC identifies and approaches potential user groups, assesses their information needs, and formulates demonstration seminars. The current financial position and medium‐term viability are considered, including fees paid by seminar participants and sponsorship in cash and kind by hosts, producers and other organisations.
An integrated system for multi‐host documentation for the Italian governmental administration
Authors: Italo Balla Maurizio , Ronci Luigi
Published: January 2008

The Information System of the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers allows users to access several different non‐interconnected hosts. A special network has been set up which permits the maintenance of higher‐level protocols, and minimises the number of lines and terminals necessary to connect to the hosts. A software which permits users on remote workstations (IBM PC and compatible) to interface with the network and the hosts has been implemented. Special procedures have been created to help users connect with the network and the hosts, change applications and search online databases.
Noise Levels: A database of industrial noise level measurements
Authors: Robert J. , Pathak B.P.
Published: January 2008

The Noise Levels database has been developed at the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety for the computerized information system, CCINFO. The database documents measured noise levels from a broad spectrum of industrial settings. Industrial hygienists, noise control engineers, researchers, health and safety committee members, and appropriate government agency personnel are the main intended audience. Noise Levels is a textual‐numeric ‘source’ database of direct measurements, although bibliographic citations are also provided. The data for Noise Levels is gathered from both published and unpublished sources. Each record provides explicit information on the noise source (for example, piece of equipment), the industry, operation associated with the noise production, and the occupational categories. Additional information is provided on the type of noise, exposure duration per day, the presence of engineering controls, and the use of ear protection. Measurement data consists of one or more of the following: Sound Pressure Level (SPL) in dB(A), Time Weighted Average (TWA), Equivalent Continuous Noise Level (ECNL), and the octave band analysis. The primary goals of the database are to encourage sharing of industrial noise data and to promote standardized reporting of noise measurements.
Magazines in full text: uses and search strategies
Authors: Tenopir Carol , Evena Shu Man
Published: January 2008

Research on why people would use general interest magazine articles online in full‐text is identifying a variety of possible uses including document location, browsing, and fact retrieval. No one search strategy works best for all uses, so databases and online systems that have magazines in full text must offer a full range of proximity operators, display features that facilitate browsing, value‐added fields, and diverse cost options if potential success is to be realized.