Table of ContentsThe Journal of Information Science and Technology
Association
(Johono Kagaku to Gijutsu)
Vol. 52 （2002） , No.3
Special feature : Meaning of Searcher
Development of information environment and the corresponding roles of searchers
Tomoko HARADA
(Sanno College, Jiyugaoka (6-35-15, Todoroki, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-8630))
Abstract : Information environment has dramatically been developing since 1970's in Japan. The roles of searchers as information professionals under these situation are discussed with the questionnaire which was made by the author to the searchers who had passed the “Qualification of database searchers". As the results, followings are proposed: It is the time to change the content and methods of “Qualification of database searchers" so as to correspond to the progressing information society in Japan. In near future, the searchers should take part in research project or planning management as co-workers who can provide accurate information to contribute achieving the object.
Keywords : searchers / information professionals / information environment / qualification examination / advanced information-oriented society / questionnaire / problem-solving ability / information co-workers / roles
A future of searcher for patent information
Teruaki TAKAHASHI
(TERU・RESEARCH (1-3-4-210, Uekoyata, Iruma-shi, Saitama 358-0027))
Abstract : The spread of the Internet and the increase in the end user accompanying it are shaking the significance of existence of a patent information searcher. It is because it is substituted for a part of capability peculiar to a searcher in information retrieval by the search engine for end users made intellectual. Then, since a patent information searcher did not lose the significance of existence, it considered from the business side in what it should succeed.As a result of consideration, it depends for the significance of existence of a patent information searcher on the degree of achievement of four keywords, the differentiation to an end user, informational creation, a computer literacy, and the Internt literacy.
Keywords : Patent Information / Internet / Searcher / End User / Information Retrieval /Mechanization / Internet Literacy / Computer Literacy
In the Field of Life Science and Medical Information
Kunio OGAWA
(Taisyo Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. Research Computer System Division (403 Yoshino-cho 1-chome, Saitama-shi Saitama 330-8530))
Abstract : In this paper, the author re-evaluates the role of searchers in the field of life science from the viewpoint of an information specialist in a pharmaceutical company. To make the most of the investment in the development of medicine, the searchers are responsible for feeding in relevant information to lab members. Not only do the searchers need to focus on their research skills and analytical tactics, but also they must carefully design the scheme to enhance end-users' access to data-basis.
Keywords : Information Searching / Searcher / Pharmaceutical company / End Usear Searching /Information Support
Requiem for Online Searcher in Domain of Business
Tokiko SHINDO
(Tokyo Library, Toray Industries, Inc. (2-1, Nihonbashi-Muromachi 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8666))
Abstract : Evolution of the IT environment has changed the behavioral pattern of business society. A spread of the Internet in recent years accelerated it. The searcher, as a specialist of business information field, is anticipated to disappear before long and its cause is explored. It is concluded that an essential changing factor is in characteristic of the business information and the change of information circulation channel through the prevailing Internet overlapped on it. Moreover, a sign of deterioration is also felt in the member of Japanese society. The above-mentioned searcher will no longer be called a searcher, but become the one who performs another function of it..
Keywords : searcher / reference / business information / business domain / characteristic of information / information section
Reference Services and Databases in Academic Libraries : A Study of the Situation and Librarians' Roles
Kenji KOYAMA
(The University of Tokyo Library System, Technical Service Division (7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033))
Abstract : The questionnaire was carried out on the situation of database services and librarians' roles in academic libraries. The results are as follows : Database services are provided in many academic libraries; End-user search has become the main method of those services. Having learned from such results, I suggest that librarians make more efforts to provide library-use-instruction, maintain an electronic information environment, and especially improve their skills and knowledge. However, they don't have the opportunities very much, and therefore, we need to expand the public educational system for librarians.
Keywords : academic libraries / database / reference service / library-use-instruction / information retrieval / Internet / searcher / recurrent education
Performance indicators for ranked output in information retrieval : revisit to average precision
Kazuaki KISHIDA
(Faculty of Cultural Information Resources, Surugadai University (698 Azu, Hanno-shi, Saitama 357-8555))
Abstract : Recall and precision, well-known performance indicators in information retrieval field, are not able to be directly employed for evaluating ranked output of retrieved documents. A solution is to use so-called average precision. However, statistical characteristics of this indicator have not been yet known sufficiently. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the nature of average precision by comparing it with other indicators such as normalized recall and normalized precision. Also, some advantages of using average precision as a performance indicator in retrieval experiments are discussed.
Keywords : average precision / precision / recall / ranked output / performance indicator /normalized recall / normalized precision / retrieval experiment