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Case research on knowledge acquisition: observations and lessons

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 July 2009

Christine Chan  and
Izak Benbasat
Christine Chan
Affiliation:
School of Computing Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, CanadaV5A 1S6
Izak Benbasat
Affiliation:
School of Computing Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, CanadaV5A 1S6
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Abstract

Expert systems are being built despite the widely acknowledged problem of acquiring knowledge from experts. This study attempts to understand how knowledge acquisition is conducted in practice by investigating three expert system development projects. A CASE research methodology is adopted, and data is collected through unobtrusive observation, from taped protocols of knowledge acquisition sessions, retrospective interviews with the participants involved, and deliverables produced. The variables examined include the problem domain, the domain expert, the knowledge engineer, the knowledge acquisition process, the expert system construction process, potential users, organizational setting, and the expert system itself. The knowledge acquisition processes for three expert systems in the domains of law of negligence, telephone line fault diagnosis, and wastewater treatment have been examined. By juxtaposing the observations drawn with findings from the relevant literature, the study makes prescriptive suggestions on considerations and techniques for future acquisition efforts, and provides data for hypothesis generation in further research.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Knowledge Engineering Review , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , June 1991 , pp. 97 - 120
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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