From the early days of the Internet to the present day, the World Wide Web has developed into one of the world's largest information resources. One of the first genres of web pages, which was also one of the first information resources, was the Personal Home Page (PHP). Over this same period of time, professional football in England has created the world's richest league and by extension an abundance of football related PHPs. This study investigates the role of the PHP as an information resource using the subject area of professional football in England. A holistic approach is taken so as to view the PHP from a broader context, as one information resource amongst many, including non-PHPs and even offline information resources (e.g. reference books). Within this study, football fans are interviewed along with web authors, surveys are carried out (by distributing both online and offline questionnaires) and research is also carried out online, examining football related PHPs and online web collaborations. Results suggest that whilst there are many informational benefits to be found on PHPs, such as plentiful unique information, they have low levels of use amongst football fans. The thesis concludes by proposing an avenue to the maximisation of the informational benefit of PHPs through a blueprint for a type of communal football website called the Club Community Composite Page (CCCP). Overall, several contributions are made to the field of information science, most notably attaining an improved understanding of PHPs as unique and accurate information providers online and devising new research methods for PHP research. In particular, the method of identification of PHPs developed here will be a useful tool for future researchers of PHPs. The contributions of this thesis are likely to be of value to researchers working in relevant sub-fields of information science, such as information seeking, web genres, grey literature and virtual communities.

<p> This study explores the information validation process of police investigators. The purpose of the research was to create a formal process model of the information validation process of a group of professional investigators. In this study I argue that the existence of such a model will help researchers in various disciplines by providing a baseline to which the validation process of other groups of information seekers can be tested and compared.</p><p> The study subjects consisted of 45 police investigators and data was collected using 4 distinct methods including semi-structured interviews, talk aloud sessions, a controlled experiment, and a Joint Application Design (JAD) session. The research culminated in a new process model of the information validation process of police investigators. The study also provides a new research framework for the future study of information validation processes of various groups of information seekers.</p><p> Several new discoveries emerging from the study include, but are not limited to, the findings that when validating new information, police investigator&rsquo;s consider disparities between the behavioral, physical, visual, evidentiary, and potentially audible forms of information surrounding the information source and the investigator&rsquo;s own personal knowledge base and experiential database. Other discoveries were that police investigators use their knowledge base and experiential database to create a virtual descriptive scenario or pre-disposition of what they expect to find before the validation process begins. They then use an abductive process through a questioning and information exchange process to test the details of their own scenario moving towards the best possible explanation of their observation.</p><p> In summary the study provides a new model of information validation illustrating the entities, processes, and decisions that comprise the process as well as the relationships, inter-dependencies, and constraints that govern it. Using professional investigators as study subjects provides merit to the model as a baseline or foundation to which we can now begin to study and compare the information validation process of other information seekers to the new model. </p>

This research is aimed towards the design and planning of an agricultural library and information network in China. Systems approach is applied to the construction of descriptive, mathematical and hybrid (logical) models in the design phase of the system development cycle. Four major conventional network functions are chosen as core functions to be designed in detail. A number of procedures and issues are identified for both overall network and individual function design. The embodiment of the design is based on the particular context to which it relates. The results of the design arc presented by either descriptive, or mathematical or hybrid (logical) models, decided by the categories of issues (quantitative or qualitative, or hybrid). The impacts of new technologies are explored and three alternative programmes, dependent on the technologies to be applied, arc defined. The cost-effectiveness-benefits of the services as overall criteria, and AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) as an processing tool, help determine 1) which program will be run, computerized or non-computerized (by cost-benefit analysis}; and 2) for a particular program, the resource allocations (mainly budgets) among co-operative activities and the resource allocations within the activity, i.e. two-level allocations. Zhejiang province, one of 29 provinces in the country, is taken as an example of regional (provincial) network model. Twenty-eight nodes Iron: five sectors and three levels, plus more potential nodes, will be configured hierarchically within the respective sectors and, in decentralised mode among sectors, in terms of network management. But, in terms of information flow and transaction, the configuration will be a mixed one. The purposes of data collection arc identified at four stages of network planning, i.e. investigation of situation, theory-testing, explanation of model and prediction. A number of investigations were made to fulfil the objectives of data collection. The descriptions of those investigations are given and the results arc discussed. The barriers to data collection confronted in Chinese circumstances are presented. Statistical analyses are carried out for certain types of data 1) to seek the conformity with the empirical assumptions, 2) to help set objective measures, 3) to estimate parameters and co-efficiency, and 4) to derive some mean, average and unit values. The research has focused on the organisational aspects of networking. However, the macro-consideration of technology is inevitable since it is a time of technological change. The latter stages of mathematical modelling, i.e. optimisation, prediction and validation are left until more empirical data become available. Nevertheless, it is possible for the author to make recommendations about the development of agricultural library and information networks in China.

The aim of this project is to establish a desirable information environment adjusting to need and behaviour of legal professional in Korea. For this purpose, present situation of information sources in printed form and computerised systems were examined. Printed sources were evaluated based on commonly used criteria title by title. Operation of the two systems, LIRES and SCS, was described based on written documents and on interview with the system designers. Professional's attitudes toward legal information, information sources, and computerisation were surveyed. Responses made a distinction between groups of practitioners and professors to compare the results. Differences in attitudes towards library, information sources, and information seeking habits between two groups were identified. Capabilities of the computerised systems were analysed and compared with the potential users' needs and behaviours as found by the survey. Also, functions of the two systems were analysed by practical use of them, which was carried out by application of five legal questions to each system. According to the analysis, it was identified that the problem of search method which was a main factor of users' dissatisfaction with the printed information sources, could not be completely cleared up by the systems. For development of the information sources, improvement of search method of printed sources was suggested. Also, advancement of the two systems in the direction of utilisation of computer capacity for searching and of expansion of input data adjusting to potential users' needs was recommended. In addition, in order to maximise the use of the two systems, integration of them, by connecting them to the Dacom-Net, and then to the distributed database system as an efficient interface was recommended. The configuration required of such an interface was demonstrated by the example of an experimental system, CONIT.

The project aimed to describe and critically evaluate information flows about medical research affecting UK quality newspapers. It focused particularly on the transfer of information from peer reviewed medical journals. In-depth interviews were conducted with media relations personnel at key organisations involved in medical research or more general health issues, and with specialist medical and health correspondents working for the national broadsheet press. The samples were purposively selected. Content analysis techniques were used to study news articles derived from information published in the British Medical Journal and the Lancet, which were compared with the original journal articles and any news releases associated with them. Many interacting factors shape media coverage of medical research and the personal motivations and preferences of a variety of individuals can play an important role. However, researchers, press officers and journalists are all constrained by their working relationships and contexts, so it is possible to identify certain common patterns of influence on the information flows. Press officers' activities are constrained by the characteristics and context of their organisations, particularly by the formal and cultural position of the press office within the organisation, and by relationships with other organisations in the field of interest which compete with their own for media access. Most importantly, they are constrained by their "go-between" role between their own organisation and media representatives who themselves operate under particular constraints. Press officers who liaise with researchers and journalists must seek acceptable compromises between scientific and news values. Specialist journalists are subject to the constraints of daily news reporting, and their stories must be strong in generally applicable news values if they are to be printed. The medical correspondents interviewed tried to avoid "over-sensationalisation" of stories because they had a sense of responsibility towards both their audience and their sources, but they had to be careful not to "kill" stories in their editors' eyes. Being unable to evaluate research evidence themselves, the journalists relied heavily on the authority of orthodox medical opinion in their story selection and development decisions. Their dependenceo n sourceso f authority encouragedt hem to write within a medical paradigm. Peer reviewed medical journals, articularly prestigious general journals, are regularly used as sources of news stories. Various factors encourage press officers and journalists to focus on a research project when it is about to be published. In particular, the peer review process is used by journalists as a quality safeguard, and journal policies against prior publication of material discourage researchers from discussing their work until it is safely in academically and professionally acceptable print. Several major medical research organisations invest heavily in media relations. Those which journalists regard as credible, and which can package information to suit their needs can successfully improve their media access. Future research should consider the roles of corporate culture and of competition between organisations involved with medical research in shaping information flows and media relations activity.

This thesis investigates aspects of the intellectual and social structure of the field of information policy through a detailed examination of the serials literature. The aims of the research are to explore how information policy scholarship is organised—in terms of its relation to other fields and disciplines; whether it constitutes a distinct specialty in its own right; and what kinds of institutional structures and arrangements exist to support research and scholarship. In Part One, a literature review identifies previous bibliometric and other studies which are relevant to studies of scholarly disciplines and knowledge communities. It discusses the interdisciplinary problem-oriented nature of information policy and considers some of the modes of enquiry which characterise investigations this area. Part Two consists of a series of experiments carried out on a test collection of 771 periodical articles drawn from the Social science Citation Index The empirical work comprised four linked studies: a bibliometric census study an analysis of document clustering; an author cocit.ation study; and a content analysis. Extensive use was made of multivariate statistical techniques, notably principal components analysis, hierarchical clustering, discriminant and correspondence analysis to identify statistically significant and meaningful patterns and structures within the test collection. The study concludes that information policy is a growing and reasonably distinctive field of study with strong links to library and information science, law, media studies, and the political sciences. It is suggested that the field is not unified and that research is still primarily organised along national and traditional disciplinary lines, with little evidence of significant collaborative activity across institutions or sectors. The research base is highly dispersed, with practitioners playing a major role in the production of knowledge. In institutional terms, the field is very thinly spread, with few signs of concentration.

The main aims of the study are: - Description of a sub-branch of science (zoology) in detail by selected parameters. - Identification of research trends during the period of zoology from the enlightenment in the 18th century until 1970, when EDP information services are in operation. - Identification of the most active time periods for systematic zoology. - Discussion of growth parameters based on calculations of geometrical mean increase or measurements of doubling time. - Test of the 'law of exponential growth' by bibliometric and scientometric methods. - Study of the background conditions during the development of systematic zoology in its most active period, i. e. ca. 1880 - 1913. - Test of the growth by 'quality' of scientific concepts, theories, and publications to give an indication of the growth of 'knowledge'. -A byproduct of the study was the generation of background material for lecturing to the 'Information science for biologists' group at Frankfurt University and also for students at the College of Museum Assistants, Frankfurt a. Main.

Different forces are increasing the need for improved methods that measure quality in health care. Elements of structure, process, and outcome need to be identified, defined, and monitored in order to assess quality of health care. Systems theory and methodology have been applied to a broad spectrum of health care problems. Much of the analytical work has taken place at the process/operational level. Accordingly, the information/decision processes are usually supported at the operational/managerial level. The information bases for decisions and action-taking at the structure and policy level however, require further analysis and research. In this research, a problem situation regarding information access and use was identified at the structure level of a "health care system". The problem focused on the barriers, values, and impact of scientific and technical information, as assessed by 36 physicians who play the role of regional coordinators for conducting activities on health education and research within the "system". The hypothesis underlying this work is that a Soft Systems approach can be used as a methodology to understand and learn about the information problems that exist at the structure level of a "health care system". It is estimated that through the inquiry process of Soft Systems Methodology, results can contribute to identify a pathway whereby the role of information access and use on quality of health, at the structure-process and process-outcome levels of health care be established. Soft Systems Methodology was useful both (1) to tackle information problems at the structure level of health care; and (2) to enrich the different concepts of human activity systems that participate in the delivery of health care at the structure, process, and outcome levels. This research provided a model to such approach. Recommendations and further lines of research are also proposed.

This study compare information flows in China and the UK with the example of pharmaceutical information. The general objective is to explore the relationship between information situation and the status of science and industry in a country. In China scientific information has long dominated information flows while in the UK scientific information in dominance has gradually been changed to industrial information flow in dominance (i.e. information work by, for and associated with industry). After background study of information communication environment and medicines research in China and the UK, scientific communication and S&T information flow are firstly studied, taking examples from pharmaceutical sciences. Then the thesis proceeds into studying pharmaceutical information flow which includes not only scientific information but also business information, drug information, patent information and statutory information. A systematic comparison has been carried out to describe pharmaceutical information flow infrastructure; wider system of the information flow; information flow performance; relations among scientific information, business information, drug information, patent information and statutory information; relationships among system (pharmaceutical information flow), wider system (national pharmaceutical industry), general information environment, and special environment "national drug situation/pharmaceutical activity". The industry's role in pharmaceutical information flow in Britain and China reflects the fundamental difference in the two countries' situation. In the UK, pharmaceutical industry playa central role in the pharmaceutical information flow. Some information are directly related to the industry such as S&T information, patent information and business information, some are indirectly associated with the industry such as drug information and statutory information. The big industry, big science and big information may reflect the UK situation. On the other hand, pharmaceutical information flow in China is mainly S&T information flow and is not closely linked with the industry. The less sophisticated pharmaceutical industry has a premature "nerve system"- information flow. The very limited industry involvement in R&D and therefore in information work reflects the little industry, little science and little information in China.

This thesis is aimed at investigating interactive query expansion within the context of a relevance feedback system that uses term weighting and ranking in searching online databases that are available through online vendors. Previous evaluations of relevance feedback systems have been made in laboratory conditions and not in a real operational environment. The research presented in this thesis followed the idea of testing probabilistic retrieval techniques in an operational environment. The overall aim of this research was to investigate the process of interactive query expansion (IQE) from various points of view including effectiveness. The INSPEC database, on both Data-Star and ESA-IRS, was searched online using CIRT, a front-end system that allows probabilistic term weighting, ranking and relevance feedback. The thesis is divided into three parts. Part I of the thesis covers background information and appropriate literature reviews with special emphasis on the relevance weighting theory (Binary Independence Model), the approaches to automatic and semi-automatic query expansion, the ZOOM facility of ESA/IRS and the CIRT front-end. Part II is comprised of three Pilot case studies. It introduces the idea of interactive query expansion and places it within the context of the weighted environment of CIRT. Each Pilot study looked at different aspects of the query expansion process by using a front-end. The Pilot studies were used to answer methodological questions and also research questions about the query expansion terms. The knowledge and experience that was gained from the Pilots was then applied to the methodology of the study proper (Part III). Part III discusses the Experiment and the evaluation of the six ranking algorithms. The Experiment was conducted under real operational conditions using a real system, real requests, and real interaction. Emphasis was placed on the characteristics of the interaction, especially on the selection of terms for query expansion. Data were collected from 25 searches. The data collection mechanisms included questionnaires, transaction logs, and relevance evaluations. The results of the Experiment are presented according to their treatment of query expansion as main results and other findings in Chapter 10. The main results discuss issues that relate directly to query expansion, retrieval effectiveness, the correspondence of the online-to-offline relevance judgements, and the performance of the w(p — q) ranking algorithm. Finally, a comparative evaluation of six ranking algorithms was performed. The yardstick for the evaluation was provided by the user relevance judgements on the lists of the candidate terms for query expansion. The evaluation focused on whether there are any similarities in the performance of the algorithms and how those algorithms with similar performance treat terms. This abstract refers only to the main conclusions drawn from the results of the Experiment: (1) One third of the terms presented in the list of candidate terms was on average identified by the users as potentially useful for query expansion; (2) These terms were mainly judged as either variant expression (synonyms) or alternative (related) terms to the initial query terms. However, a substantial portion of the selected terms were identified as representing new ideas. (3) The relationship of the 5 best terms chosen by the users for query expansion to the initial query terms was: (a) 34% have no relationship or other type of correspondence with a query term; (b) 66% of the query expansion terms have a relationship which makes the term: (bl) narrower term (70%), (b2) broader term (5%), (b3) related term (25%). (4) The results provide some evidence for the effectiveness of interactive query expansion. The initial search produced on average 3 highly relevant documents at a precision of 34%; the query expansion search produced on average 9 further highly relevant documents at slightly higher precision. (5) The results demonstrated the effectiveness of the w(p—q) algorithm, for the ranking of terms for query expansion, within the context of the Experiment. (6) The main results of the comparative evaluation of the six ranking algorithms, i.e. w(p — q), EMIM, F4, F4modifed, Porter and ZOOM, are that: (a) w(p — q) and EMIM performed best; and (b) the performance between w(p — q) and EMIM and between F4 and F4modified is very similar; (7) A new ranking algorithm is proposed as the result of the evaluation of the six algorithms. Finally, an investigation is by definition an exploratory study which generates hypotheses for future research. Recommendations and proposals for future research are given. The conclusions highlight the need for more research on weighted systems in operational environments, for a comparative evaluation of automatic vs interactive query expansion, and for user studies in searching weighted systems.