Computer-Based Methods of Knowledge Acquisition and Elicitation in Terms of the Subjective Representation and Teaching of Complex Domains

Abstract

A complex domain of expertise can arguably be identified as one comprising a mixture of well-structured, clearly defined knowledge and heuristic, subjective knowledge. This paper discusses various computer-based approaches to knowledge acquisition (KA), and briefly highlights an investigation into the use of computer-based technology to support what can be termed an ‘interpretive’ approach to knowledge elicitation (KE), namely the Appreciative Inquiry Method (AIM) (Stowell et. al. 1991; West, 1992), which seeks to elicit complex knowledge directly from an expert at a subjective level of experience. KA usually refers to the acquisition of knowledge from both human domain experts and from other sources such as texts and documents. KE, on the other hand refers to the elicitation of knowledge directly from human domain experts. the rationale for this paper is based on the inadequacies of current computer-based approaches to KA in eliciting the more heuristical, experiential and’ tacit’ features of expertise and in providing a subjective representation of those complex domains of expertise.