Abstract
M.A.
CD-ROM products provide access to information by means of
different modes of interaction, often on the same database.
Although command language is still widely recognized as the
interaction mode which retrieves the most relevant references,
it is regarded as difficult to use because of its complex
structure. More user friendly modes, for example, menu
and direct manipulation are viewed as being more accessible
to the up-and-coming end-user.
The purpose of this study was to determine by means of an
empirical study whether the retrieval effectiveness between
two modes of interaction on the same database differed significantly.
A literature survey pointed out the unique characteristics
of existing modes. It was also established that the traditional
measures of retrieval effectiveness through relevance
and precision could not be applied in this research. A
method was devised in which the results of the two modes
were compared. The empirical study was done on the command
and form fill-in modes of Wilson Business Abstracts. Total
results retrieved through each mode were compared, as well
as the ease of entering the search by means of appropriate
search facilities for each mode.
The results of the research revealed that the presence of
unique search facilities in a mode results in better retrieval
effectiveness. Searches in both modes also require
specific ways of input for optimum quality retrieval and
thus has implications for intensive training in search
methods.