Factors Affecting Student's Scientific Information Retrieval based on Fuzzy Logic Method Compared to Traditional Method

Background and aim: The aim of this study was to identify the factors affecting on students' performance in information retrieval based on fuzzy logic method compared to traditional method. Materials and methods: This survey-descriptive study was performed using quantitative approach. The research population was 34 PhD students, and the researcher-made questionnaire was used. Data were analyzed using evaluation method based on fuzzy logic systems and MATLAB software. Multiple regressions were used to determine the effect of all variables affecting on scientific information retrieval. Findings: Personal and cognitive factors such as familiarity with specialized vocabulary, search term determination and evaluation ability and factors including relevance analysis, problem formulation and limiting the scope of the search had the greatest and the least impact on students' performance in scientific information retrieval, respectively. In relation to information system capabilities, the factor of search capabilities with an average of 3.05 had the most impact, and factors such as providing graphical facilities like graph and flowchart (displaying results in information system) had the least impact on information retrieval performance. Conclusion: Personal and cognitive factors of users have most impact on user’s performance during scientific information retrieval. Moreover, the user’s performance success is more in fuzzy method than traditional evaluation methods.