Can R Discovery be customized to search for specific authors?

Answer from top 10 papers

The ability to search for specific authors using R Discovery is not directly addressed in the provided papers. However, several papers discuss the customization and use of search tools and algorithms that could potentially be adapted for author-specific searches. Saha and Ali (2013) describes the customization of the EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) to allow for discipline-specific database searches, which implies that similar customization could be applied to search for specific authors within a discipline (Saha & Ali, 2013). Sussolaikah (2021) introduces a domain-specific custom search technique that could be adapted to include author-specific searches, although it is not explicitly mentioned (Sussolaikah, 2021). Jimy et al. (2023) and Stranisci et al. (2022) discuss the use of R Programming for data extraction and time series prediction, respectively, which suggests that R could be used to develop tools for author searches, given the right algorithm or package (Jimy et al., 2023; Stranisci et al., 2022). S et al. (2022) and Barzekar and Mcroy (2023) highlight the versatility of R Programming in various research contexts, further supporting the idea that R could be used for creating author-specific search tools (Barzekar & Mcroy, 2023; S et al., 2022). Rimal (2019) and Fu and Thomes (2014) discuss the use of R for reliability estimates and machine learning models, which, while not directly related to author searches, demonstrate the advanced capabilities of R that could be leveraged for such a purpose (Fu & Thomes, 2014; Rimal, 2019). Lastly, Ayanwale et al. (2022) illustrates the use of R in educational workshops, which could include training on how to search for specific authors if such functionality were developed (Ayanwale et al., 2022).
In summary, while none of the papers explicitly discuss the capability to search for specific authors using R Discovery, the customization and algorithmic capabilities of R Programming and other search tools discussed in the papers suggest that it is possible to develop such a functionality. The versatility of R and its application in various search and data analysis contexts support the potential for creating a tool or package that enables author-specific searches (Ayanwale et al., 2022; Barzekar & Mcroy, 2023; Fu & Thomes, 2014; Jimy et al., 2023; Rimal, 2019; S et al., 2022; Saha & Ali, 2013; Stranisci et al., 2022; Sussolaikah, 2021).

Source Papers

Novel pedagogical tool for simultaneous learning of plane geometry and R programming

Programming a computer is an activity that can be very beneficial to undergraduate students in terms of improving their mental capabilities, collaborative attitudes and levels of engagement in learning. Despite the initial difficulties that typically arise when learning to program, there are several well-known strategies to overcome them, providing a very high benefit-cost ratio to most of the students. Moreover, the use of a programming language usually raises the interest of students to learn any specific concept, which has caused that many teachers around the world employ a programming language as a learning environment to treat almost every possible topic. Particularly, mathematics can be taught and learnt while using a suitable programming language. The R programming language is endowed with a wide range of capabilities that allow its use to learn different kind of concepts while programming. Therefore, complex subjects such as mathematics could be learnt with the help of this powerful programming language. In addition, since the R language provides numerous graphical functions, it could be very useful to acquire simultaneously basic plane geometry and programming knowledge at the undergraduate level. This paper describes the LearnGeom R package, a novel pedagogical tool, which contains multiple functions to learn geometry in R at different levels of difficulty, from the most basic geometric objects to high-complexity geometric constructions, while developing numerous programming skills.

Open Access
Achievable Minimally-Contrastive Counterfactual Explanations

Decision support systems based on machine learning models should be able to help users identify opportunities and threats. Popular model-agnostic explanation models can identify factors that support various predictions, answering questions such as “What factors affect sales?” or “Why did sales decline?”, but do not highlight what a person should or could do to get a more desirable outcome. Counterfactual explanation approaches address intervention, and some even consider feasibility, but none consider their suitability for real-time applications, such as question answering. Here, we address this gap by introducing a novel model-agnostic method that provides specific, feasible changes that would impact the outcomes of a complex Black Box AI model for a given instance and assess its real-world utility by measuring its real-time performance and ability to find achievable changes. The method uses the instance of concern to generate high-precision explanations and then applies a secondary method to find achievable minimally-contrastive counterfactual explanations (AMCC) while limiting the search to modifications that satisfy domain-specific constraints. Using a widely recognized dataset, we evaluated the classification task to ascertain the frequency and time required to identify successful counterfactuals. For a 90% accurate classifier, our algorithm identified AMCC explanations in 47% of cases (38 of 81), with an average discovery time of 80 ms. These findings verify the algorithm’s efficiency in swiftly producing AMCC explanations, suitable for real-time systems. The AMCC method enhances the transparency of Black Box AI models, aiding individuals in evaluating remedial strategies or assessing potential outcomes.

Open Access
Implementing discipline-specific searches in EBSCO Discovery Service

Purpose – This paper discusses how University of Maryland University College (UMUC) librarians customized EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) to allow for searching across librarian-selected sets of discipline-specific databases. Discipline-specific searching results in a smaller and more relevant set of search results, which can make research more efficient and effective. Design/methodology/approach – This paper describes the collaboration between systems and reference and instruction librarians to develop, test, launch, promote, and assess discipline-specific searching in EDS in support of effective teaching and learning. Findings – Customization of a discovery tool to allow researchers to run searches across pre-selected sets of discipline-specific databases is beneficial to the researchers since it enables them to find a smaller and more relevant set of search results than they would otherwise receive if they searched across all databases available in the discovery tool. Originality/value – This paper provides detailed instructions regarding customization of EDS to allow for discipline-specific searching and discusses ways in which this enhancement can be brought to researchers' attention during reference and instruction interactions. This paper should be of interest to technical librarians as well as to reference and instruction librarians.

Userfriendlyscience Package of R Programming Language: A Veritable Tool for Reliability Estimate of Non-cognitive Scale

<p> </p> <p>Having quality instruments is essential in ensuring data integrity. Indiscriminately application and over-dependency on Cronbach alpha index for multiple measured items (ordinal scale) and usage of SPSS software, which produce spurious estimation, have been a subject of technical debates in the literature. This debate toes the path of fulfilling stringent underlying assumptions of Cronbach alpha, such as uni-dimensionality, tau-equivalent, etc. However, modern approaches like ordinal alpha, Omega coefficient, GLB, Guttman Lambda, and Revelle Beta have been suggested with precise estimates and confidence intervals via R programming language. Thus, this paper examined the performance of alternative approaches to Cronbach alpha and documented practical step by step of establishing it. Non-experimental design of scale development research was adopted, and a multi-stage sampling procedure was used to sample N = 883 subjects that participated in the study. Findings showed that the instrument is multidimensional, in which Cronbach alpha is not apt for its estimation. Also, other forms of reliability methods produced better and more precise estimates, though their performance differs among themselves. The authors concluded that estimation of Cronbach Alpha using SPSS when the instrument is ordinal is absolutely not sufficient. Therefore, it is recommended that researchers explore and shift their paradigm from traditional reliability estimates through SPSS to modern approaches using an R programming language.</p>

Open Access