Knowledge-based expert systems: Critiquing versus conventional approaches

A critiquing expert system was developed to assist in operations of the San Francisco Water Supply System. A conventional system was also developed using the same body of knowledge domain. Both systems were used and evaluated by operators to determine ways in which the critiquing system or conventional expert system was preferred. In these evaluation studies, operators preferred the critiquing system over the conventional expert system on each criterion of user acceptability and desirability. Tn particular, the critiquing system was rated highest in its potential as an instructional tool. This study supports the claims in the literature that the critiquing approach can provide benefits over the conventional approach in terms of user acceptance and training. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.