An empirical investigation of knowledge-based search tactics in the topic refinement behavior of online bibliographic searchers
Steven J. Shute · OhioLink ETD Center (Ohio Library and Information Network) · 1989
T his work w ould not have been possible w ithout the support, both m aterial and m oral, of those who are gratefully acknowledged here.The re s e a rc h was supported u n d er co n tracts from Chem ical A bstracts Service and th e Applied Inform ation Technologies Research Center.Joe G uarini translated functional specifications for th e operation of two topic refinem ent tactics into LISP routines, and these tactics a re now p a rt of the cu rren t EP-X intermediary prototype.R obert Vance and Steven Starr have been role models an d friends of mine, a n d I th an k them fo r their guidance and encouragement.Deb Galdes, Alex K irlik, Tom M iller, an d Chuck Layton have each played a key role i n my education -a s stim ulating and supportive peers.You will always h av e my friendship a n d respect.The searchers whose perform ance was th e focus of th is research deserve special thanks.T h eir expertise, diligence, and sense of hum or made th is investigation b oth productive and fun.I a m indebted to m y dissertation committee of Rich Jagacinski, Harvey Shulm an, Phil Sm ith, and D avid Woods for their careful review o f th e various stages of this work, and for their m any valuable suggestions.H arvey S hulm an has g iv en me a sound education in experim ental psychology, and I have benefitted g reatly by having him as m y adviser.My o ther adviser, Phil Sm ith, has contributed trem endous am ounts o f th o u g h tfu l discussion, in sig h t, a n d en co u rag em en t d u rin g th e dissertation and throughout my years in graduate school.Because of you, Phil, I'll always se ek to a sk the right questions, and be better able to select or devise ways to pursue answers to those questions.Finally, I'd lik e to th a n k my fam ily, Mom, Dad, and Jim , for th e ir support throughout this effort.I also drew g reat strength from my young son, S ean Michael.Most im portantly, I thank my beloved wife, Lorraine, for sacrificing so much to give me th e opportunity to pursue th is goal.W ithout your patience and love, Laurie, this would not have been possible.