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Show New Computer system "Dialog" atSUSC A new computer assisted research process, which drastically cuts search time and provides biographical information on thousands of articles found in periodicals and other research materials, is now in operation at the Southern Utah State College Library. The computer assisted search is made available through the Lockheed Information In-formation Systems DIALOG data base in Palo Alto,' California. "The process drastically cuts research time and in some cases may be the only way to match up the many variables of a research problem," Randall 0. Christensen, chairman of library public service, said. The main users of the computerized search, Christensen says, will be the SUSC faculty and graduate students enrolled in the Utah State University-Southern Utah State College Cooperative Master's Program in education. Funding for DIALOG use has been provided through a state grant awarded to the college to upgrade library facilities since the cooperative education program was approved. Nearly a hundred data reference areas are available ranging from agriculture, education, chemistry, life science, language and literature, business, governmental proceedings to world textiles. tex-tiles. A search may be initiated by contacting Monica Ferrari, chief operator, or Mr. Christensen at the SUSC Library. Together with the patron, they will outline a search strategy and input the keywords into the system. By using a small telecommunications terminal, ter-minal, .originally purchased at SUSC for use in book cataloging, telephone connection is made between SUSC and Palo Alto where the data bank is located. "A typical search may go like this," Christensen explains. ex-plains. "Say a professor wants to research various aspects of self concept in student teaching. First of all, the descriptions, or subject headings, or self concept and student teaching will be transmitted to Palo Alto where they will be surveyed by the computer. com-puter. "We find that there re 5454 entries on self concept and another 1067 entries on student teaching, with only 19 entries containing information in-formation about both topics. ''This means," Christensen said, "that without the new system, the professor would have to look through 6,521 articles in order to find the 19 entries that are related to both subject areas." Once the number of entries en-tries has been determined, the researcher can have the machine type abstracts of the articles right on the computer foldout. Or, the same material may be . printed on an off-line printer and mailed to the searcher, the optino generally used when there are a large number of abstracts available. If the information is not available in the SUSC Library, the researcher may obtain microfiche copies of the actual documents from the Research and Development Division of the Utah State Board of Education. "Surprisingly enough, the search is not costly. The cost for locating the 19 entries on student teaching and self concept would run about $6," Christensen said. "Within reason, the cost of a search made by students or faculty will be paid by a state grant. Other patrons are welcome to use the service on a payment basis," he said. Chief operator Monica Ferrari conducts a DIALOG search at the Southern Utah State College Library. Randall 0. Christensen, chairman of library public service, looks at the resulting abstracts. |