A comparison of information retrieval from print and CD-ROM versions of an Encyclopedia by elementary school students

摘要

Describes an experiment using 48 sixth-grade students to compare retrieval techniques using the print and CD-ROM versions of Compton's Encyclopedia. Four queries of different complexity (measured by the number of terms present) were searched by the students after a short training session. The searches were timed and the retrieval steps and search terms were noted. The searches were no faster on the CD-ROM than the print version, but in both cases time was related directly to the number of terms involved. The students coped well with the CD-ROM interface and its several retrieval paths.