Search

Medsirch (Medical Search) is an information retrieval system designed to aid in preparing examinations for medical students. There are two versions of the system: a sequential access file suitable for shallow indexing with a broad choice of search terms and a random direct access file for deep indexing with a restricted range of choices for search items. A user who knows exactly which items he wants may retrieve them by providing a list of the appropriate item identification numbers. If a user knows only the characteristics of the items he wants, he must submit a coded profile outlining the search restrictions that should and/or should not be met by the retrieved items. A thesaurus lists the coded variables and values which describe each item: medical subspecialty, type of question (single or multiple answer), taxonomic level (factual, comprehension, or problem solving), difficulty level, last year question was used, etc. The profiling or structuring procedure for search requests is detailed. Results from the use of random and sequential versions of the system are presented in order to document a comparison of the two methods. An expanded presentation of this system appears in the author's unpublished master's thesis. (JY)

A brief description of a computerized system for the storage and retrieval of multiple choice items.'' (Author/AK)