Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 259-278).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii, 1993. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 259-278).

This study surveyed Compact Disc-Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) technology in South African university libraries. The survey instrument used to elicit data was a questionnaire which was distributed via electronic mail (e-mail). CD-ROMs have been in the marketplace for over a decade and the extent to which South African university libraries have embraced CD-ROM technology was surveyed. Libraries offer CD-ROM services to internal staff and end-users, who in this study were students and academic staff. The study highlighted some of the CD-ROM related management issues such as budgeting, networking, resource sharing and end-user training. Survey results from the respondents indicated that they had all adopted CD-ROM technology. However, the level of CD-ROM technology and services in Historically White Institutions (HWI) and Historically Black Institutions (HBI) differed. This was evident in areas such as the year in which CD-ROMs were acquired, collection sizes and network access. The results showed that all libraries offered some form of enduser training to academic staff and students. The evolving nature of CD-ROM . technology presents a great challenge for libraries trying to keep up-to-date with the technology. This was highlighted in the open-ended questions about CD-ROM development plans and comments in general about CD-ROM technology in the different libraries. All libraries had access to the Internet and were working towards providing electronic information resources via the Web. Resource sharing and the establishment of consortiums can address the exorbitant costs of providing electronic information resources. Recommendations for further research on different aspects of CD-ROM technology were made. The development of the Internet as an information delivery system for the distribution of on-line information will emphasize the extent to which librarians and end-users are using the Internet for on-line information, as compared with CD-ROM services. Increasingly, aggregators are publishing information on the Internet and South African university libraries are already seeing this as an alternative to maintaining CD-ROM technology and services. / Thesis (M.I.S.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.

Direct measurement of optical phase is used in a high-density optical disk reader. The increased density is achieved by introducing multiple pit depths to replace the single pit depths of a traditional compact disk. Having four independent pit depths can double the storage capacity of a disk. The multi-level pits are read by direct measurement of the phase difference between two laser spots focused onto the disk surface. Extraction of phase information utilizes the equations of phase shifting interferometry with four shifted fringe patterns created simultaneously by a compact optical head. The system speed is therefore limited by the readout electronics instead of by slow mechanical phase shifters. The resulting system can identify four independent levels as well as the direction of transition from one level to another. The system also has low sensitivity to vibrations and to changes in the fringe contrast and beam intensity.

The primary question to be answered as a result of the research was: Do native English-speaking undergraduate students learn CD-ROM database search skills more effectively through the use of conventional instruction method or by training confined to a written manual self-instructional method? Thirty-seven Oregon State University students were randomly assigned to two groups and participated in the study. The study utilized an experimental pretest-posttest control group design. The length of the study was six weeks. All participants were pre and post-measured using the CD-ROM Database Competency Test which was validated using the Delphi method. The subjects were trained using Wilsondisc and SilverPlatter databases. ANCOVA and t-tests were the main statistics utilized in the analysis. The results of the study were as follows: 1) Subjects in both treatment groups experienced significant test score gains between pretest and posttest; 2) Those subjects which were assigned to the conventional instruction group had significantly higher scores than did subjects assigned to the self-instruction group; 3) Subject gender was determined not to be a factor when differences were considered from test results; 4) Interaction did not play a significant role in influencing the data results; 5) Students rated formal training as being very helpful in improving the effectiveness of their CD-ROM database searches. The major conclusion drawn from the study was that the native English-speaking students at Oregon State University learned CD-ROM searching skills more effectively through the conventional instruction method than those students who were trained by self-instruction. The results of the study substantiated the need to undertake further efforts to improve the efficiency of learning CD-ROM access instructional methods in higher educational settings. / Graduation date: 1994

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, 1996. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 177-183).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Pittsburgh, 1996. / "97-09421." eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 97-105).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Pittsburgh, 1996. / "97-09421." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 97-105).

M.A. (Information Science) / This research investigated the problem of multiple bibliographic interfaces that end-users face when conducting searches. A situation analysis was conducted which provided a profile of the situation under investigation. Based on the results of the analysis an end-user training programme for adoption by subject reference librarians at the University of the North Library with regard to bibliographic CD-ROM databases is formulated. This programme is proposed to address problems that end-users experience with these databases and in the process to improve their search abilities. Finally, areas for further investigation with regard to the situation, learner and learning situation are also suggested.