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In information science, the three ideas that affect the nature of research are the non-cohesive nature of information research, the deficiency of an philosophical framework that might guide the development of methods and the problems of research in the reality of daily professional practice. It is also stated that at one particular level, phenomenology offers an integrative philosophical perspective that might also help to resolve the research or practice split.

Riding's Cognitive Styles Analysis was used to assess the 111 research subjects for Witkin's field dependence/independence. Results show that field-independent (holistic) searchers indulge in bolder explorations.

Information-seekers must usually search more than once for desired information. Information retrieval systems should be redesigned to work with this behavior.

Wilson's model of the problem-solving process is explored using the uncertainty concept. Ellis' and Kuhlthau's concepts of search characteristics and information-seeking stages are also discussed.

A research project in which 198 information-seekers participated in online searches mediated by the Dialog Information Service is discussed.

Users consider coverage as the most important quality criterion in evaluating which CD-ROM and online database services are most optimal. The significance of this performance category cuts across user types, country types, and database types. After coverage, the next four most important categories are timeliness, consistency, accuracy and accessibility, although not necessarily in that order. This high degree of consistency in the choice of evaluation criteria is demonstrated by comparatively low standard deviation scores in the 1993/1994 EQUIP survey.

A study of local journal use conducted in the UK in the late 1970s is presented to show the practical value of local-use studies and to shed light on why general citation analyses are less useful in a local context. Items chosen for inclusion in Social Work Information Bulletin (SWIB) were compared with indicators of importance derived from citation studies of scholarly literature. The results showed that the SWIB selected articles based on the needs of its specialized audience within local government, and not on the results of citation analyses of scholarly literature of a discipline or profession.

The ability of the critical success factors (CSF) methodology to identify information requirements was examined. The CSF was used to identify the management information needs of university academic department heads and to examine the relationship between these requirements and the attainment of organizational objectives. Results revealed that the method is appropriate for university management and that senior management officials generally understand and accept its application. The CSF was able to consider all important information and to identify priority areas for development.

Knowledge transfer in education is illustrated by outlining the establishment of a collaborative Master's Program in Information Management. This was accomplished by the Department of Information Sciences at the University of Sheffield and the Center for Technical Information for Industry of the Laboratorio Nacional de Engenharia e Tecnologia Industrial.

The examination of the interaction variables within Saracevic's (1989) triadic information-retrieval (IR) model is discussed. The analysis involved an examination of the information-searching behavior of academic researchers during meditated interaction with an IR system.

This paper reports on a recent review of the literature of 'information behaviour' as it is studied in a variety of disciplines, other than information science. As a result of the review, areas of research interest to information science are identified and a general model of information behaviour is proposed.

Attitudes and practices currently evident in business information courses in U.K. schools of librarianship and information studies are examined in the light of organization information developments. Proposals are made for relating business information courses more clearly to organizational information requirements.

A rapid reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of glutaric acid, phenylephrine, and benzyl alcohol in nasal spray has been developed. UV detection was utilized at 210nm for the assay of glutaric acid and phenylephrine with an adjustment to 254nm for the measurement of benzyl alcohol. Linearity and recovery data were obtained for each component in spiked placebo studies. An investigation of the retention mechanisms of the three components showed that phenylephrine was retained by ion-pairing with octanesulfonate anion while glutaric acid and benzyl alcohol partitioned as a suppressed ion and a neutral molecule, respectively. The method has been further extended to the reversedphase separation of di- and tricarboxylic acids using a totally aqueous 0.0074M phosphoric acid mobile phase. The retention of these acids was related to their octanol–water partition coefficients and structural variation.

The interaction of water with polymers is important because it directly or indirectly affects various properties such as rheological and transport properties. In this study, the hydration/dissolution of a hydrophilic polymer was investigated by calorimetric techniques. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose E5 (Methocel, HPMC E5) was used as the model polymer. A water-insoluble, hydrophobic polymer, ethyl cellulose E4 (Ethocel, EC E4), was selected for comparison. The number of moles of non-freezing and freezing water were determined by differential scanning calorimetry. Moles of non-freezing water per polymer repeat unit were 6.2 ± 1.3 and 1.6 ± 0.3 for HPMC E5 and EC E4, respectively. The hydration/dissolution of HPMC E5 was exothermic, with a total heat of dissolution of –24.1 ± 1.1 cal/g (n = 4). The heat of hydration of water-insoluble EC E4 was –2.6 cal/g (n = 2). The specific heat capacity value of HPMC E5 increased due to the addition of water. The heat of solution and an increase in specific heat capacity values were associated mainly with the addition of tightly bound water to the polymer. The dissolution of HPMC E5 in water is believed to have endothermic and exothermic components. In summary, the study provided insight into the dissolution of a representative hydrophilic polymer in water. The heat of solution and the specific heat capacity values were mainly dependent on the addition of tightly bound water.

Project LOGI was funded by the British Library R&D Department to develop 'self-help' manuals for those wishmg to assess information needs in local government and to evaluate the effectiveness of current awareness services. The data obtamed in pilot tests of the research Instruments point to conclusions of relevance for the design of information systems. In particular, the data on the value of current awareness services, and on the uses to which information is put, help to define further the Idea of 'benefit' and to limit the scope of 'benefit measurement'.

This paper describes some of the results of two brief questionnaires sent to local authority social services departments in 1974. Given the shortcomings of the questionnaires and the fact that the data are not susceptible to tests of significance, the results reveal wide variationin the nature of information services provided within these departments, a low level of public library involvement in specific information problems of the social services, and a very "passive" service from those public service libraries which are involved. The data also reveal a relatively low level of awareness of the value of external agencies as possible providers of information.

A questionnaire listing possible research projects in the field of social welfare information work was sent to 8 1 individuals representing practitioners in the field as well as librarians and information workers. The results were used to provide background information for participants in a Forum funded by the British Library Research and Development Depart ment and revealed some significant differences between priority judgements of practitioners and those of librarians and information workers. The technique employed can be regarded as a modification of the 'Delphi' technique and it is suggested that bringing respondents to the questionnaire together for the second 'round' of the investigation may have specific advantages in increasing mutual understanding among different interest-groups.

The chief findings and recommendations of the final report on the DES Local Library Cooperation Project are presented in relation to the key concept of existing "unplanned coordination". Developments that have taken place in Sheffield since the publication of the report are noted.

A programme for the development of an information system for industry in Portugal was set up in May 1987. This programme aimed to promote the transfer of information by creating an effective network of information centres giving high quality information services to business and industry. A postgraduate course to train information intermediaries was set up, and took place in two consecutive years. This paper highlights some aspects of the training methods and changes in the programme as a result of an evaluation of the first course. In addition, the results obtained after one year of activity of the first six information centres created within the scope of the programme are discussed and the further development of the programme is considered. [French, German and Spanish translations of this abstract can be found on pp. 373–376]

This paper describes the background to the estab lishment of a collaborative, distance-learning Master's pro gramme in Portugal, involving the Centre for Technical Infor mation for Industry of the Laboratório Nacional de Engen haria e Tecnologia Industrial, and the Department of Intor mation Studies at the University of Sheffield. Previous collab oration on an intensive, six-month training programme for Information Intermediaries had led to an awareness of a market readiness for a more advanced course and. following a year of preliminary work, the MSC programme was imple mented with the aid of funds from PFDIP.In this paper, after a brief overview of the training in Information in Portugal. including a short reference to the Postgraduate Course for Information Intermediaries launched by ( ITI, the experience of setting up the Master's Programme in Information Management ot the University of Sheffield, at I NETI/CITI is outlined.

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for hydrocortisone cypionate bulk drug and oral solution was developed that avoids the use of a heated column as described in USP XX. A study of the effect of the organic modifier concentration on the capacity factor suggests that mixed partition and adsorption phenomena are responsible for the retention of several steroids when acetonitrile is used in the mobile phase. Evidence is presented that hydrogen bonding of the solute molecule with silane hydroxyl groups may be responsible for the adsorption.

The development of user studies at the Department of Information Studies, Sheffield University, is described The research work of students and staff in this area is analysed. Generalizable findings are discussed and attention is drawn to methodological, application and educational implications.

Reports on a survey of former students which aimed to collect career information, gain an impression of views on their course, compare findings with an earlier study, and assess these findings in the context of the current employment situation. The results showed, inter alia,an increasing interest in com puter-based information work, that most graduates were able to find posts that matched their interests, that they entered a wide range of jobs in 'the emerging market', and that job satisfaction was at a high level.