Improving SDI search profiles

Abstract An evaluation was undertaken to investigate ways and means of improving the method of constructing profiles for an SDI system based on the INIS tapes. Pertinence, or the subjective assessment of a reference by the user against his own information needs was the criterion measure used. The evaluation was undertaken in an operational environment in a real-life situation. Precision and recall ratios for 5 users were calculated over ten issues of Atomindex. Graphs were drawn and the results analysed. As a result of the analysis, new procedures are now followed in the construction of profiles. These are described and the conclusion is reached that there is no evidence to show that complex profiles perform better than simple ones.