HOW TO IMPLEMENT A NATURALISTIC MODEL OF ABSTRACTING - 4 CORE WORKINGSTEPS OF AN EXPERT ABSTRACTOR

Four working steps taken from a comprehensive empirical model of exper t abstracting are studied in order to prepare an explorative implement ation of a simulation model. It aims at explaining the knowledge proce ssing activities during professional summarizing, Following the case-b ased and holistic strategy of qualitative empirical research, we devel op the main features of the simulation system by investigating in deta il a small but central test case-four working steps where an expert ab stractor discovers what the paper is about and drafts the topic senten ce of the abstract. Following the KADS methodology of knowledge engine ering, our discussion begins with the empirical model (a conceptual mo del in KADS terms) and aims at a computational model which is implemen table without determining the concrete implementation tools (the desig n model according to KADS), The envisaged solution uses a blackboard s ystem architecture with cooperating object-oriented agents representin g cognitive strategies and a dynamic text representation which borrows its conceptual relations in particular from RST (Rhetorical Structure Theory). As a result of the discussion we feel that a small simulatio n model of professional summarizing is feasible.