Cost and know‐how — the ‘Matthew effect’ in information retrieval

Abstract

The cost of online bibliographic searching depends on how it is done. What is paid is the means and not the result. Yet there is no correlation between the price of the means and the value of the result. To achieve a satisfactory balance between means and results as well as a good quality/price ratio, an attempt must be made to optimise searching along the following two axes: the strategic approach and the conceptual approach. But the elements that have to be taken into consideration are rarely known by the occasional user. This is why a new category of specialist has come into being, i.e. the systems expert, who knows everything about all the databases and search procedures. The more online searches he makes, the more skilled he becomes and the more he is asked to make, whereas the occasional user moves in the opposite direction (‘Matthew’ effect).

Citation

Moureau, M. (1987), "Cost and know‐how — the ‘Matthew effect’ in information retrieval", Online Review, Vol. 11 No. 6, pp. 355-360. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb024254