University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

An Evaluation of Online Database Selection by a Gateway System With Artificial Intelligence Techniques

Hu, Chengren

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/69497

Description

Title
An Evaluation of Online Database Selection by a Gateway System With Artificial Intelligence Techniques
Author(s)
Hu, Chengren
Issue Date
1987
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Lancaster, F. Wilfrid,
Department of Study
Library Science
Discipline
Library Science
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
  • Library Science
  • Information Science
Abstract
The tremendous growth of computer-readable databases makes automated database selection very desirable in online services. Gateway systems as components in online networks convert information among online systems and aid the users in various ways including database selection. An evaluation of online database selection by an existing gateway system (InfoMaster, a version of EasyNet) was performed, comparing database selections made by experienced reference librarians with those made by inexperienced searchers aided by InfoMaster for the same set of queries. The results show that automated database selection by InfoMaster still heavily depends on a human decision concerning the broad subject area into which a query falls. When the gateway user properly selects the subject area for a particular query, InfoMaster can do automated database selection as well as the human intermediaries. Artificial intelligence techniques (AI) for automated database selection by gateway systems were studied and a framework of AI techniques for this particular function was outlined based on the analysis of the evaluation results.
Graduation Semester
1987
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/69497

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