Proceedings of the 12th European Conference on Knowledge ...

2.3.4 Types <strong>of</strong> Knowledge Obtained
Peter Marshall and Damian Gordon
Ano<strong>the</strong>r grouping <strong>of</strong> KE techniques is by <strong>the</strong> type <strong>of</strong> knowledge elicited (Burge, 2008). In this
categorisation, Burge identifies six categories: procedures, problem solving strategy, goals and subgoals,
classification, relationships and evaluation. As with individual and group knowledge elicitation
techniques, KE techniques <strong>of</strong>ten fit into more than one category. From this it can be seen that KE
techniques are not limited to one type <strong>of</strong> knowledge. This categorisation is a powerful one in selecting
<strong>the</strong> appropriate techniques for KE sessions. The categorisation can aid in focusing elicitation to goals
set at <strong>the</strong> onset <strong>of</strong> KE activities (Marshall & Gordon, 2011). The first categorisation is procedures.
Techniques in this category can be used to elicit procedural knowledge. Burge (ibid) defines <strong>the</strong>se
types <strong>of</strong> tools as those “used to determine <strong>the</strong> steps followed to complete a task and <strong>the</strong> order in
which <strong>the</strong>y are taken”. Table 4.6 contains a list <strong>of</strong> examples <strong>of</strong> techniques used in this categorisation
<strong>of</strong> KE techniques.
Table 6: Examples <strong>of</strong> KE techniques for Procedural Knowledge
Category Examples
Procedural Techniques Interviewing
Concept Mapping
Interruption Analysis
Questionnaire
The next category is <strong>the</strong> set <strong>of</strong> KE tools that are used to elicit a problem solving strategy. Techniques
in this category can be used to elicit semantic and episodic knowledge (discussed in section 2.2.2.3).
These methods aim to elicit knowledge pertaining to <strong>the</strong> strategies employed by an expert in <strong>the</strong>ir
decision-making processes. Table 4.7 contains a list <strong>of</strong> examples <strong>of</strong> techniques used in this
categorisation <strong>of</strong> KE techniques.
Table 7: Examples <strong>of</strong> KE techniques for Problem Solving Strategic Knowledge
Category Examples
Problem Solving Strategy Techniques Interviewing
Protocol analysis
Commentary
20 questions
The following category refers to techniques that elicit knowledge pertaining to goals and sub-goals.
These techniques are used to decompose tasks being performed by an SME during a KE session.
Techniques in this category are used to elicit procedural knowledge. However Burge (ibid)
distinguishes <strong>the</strong>se methods from <strong>the</strong> ones found in <strong>the</strong> procedural section since ordering <strong>of</strong> goals /
sub-goals are not necessarily provided. Table 4.8 contains a list <strong>of</strong> examples <strong>of</strong> techniques used in
this categorisation <strong>of</strong> KE techniques.
Table 8: Examples <strong>of</strong> KE techniques for Goals / Sub-Goals Knowledge
Category Examples
Goals / Sub-goals Techniques Critical Decision Method
Task action mapping
Re-classification
Goal Decomposition
In Classification, <strong>the</strong> KE techniques are used to classify entities within <strong>the</strong> domain. Techniques in this
category are primarily used to elicit declarative knowledge. Table 4.9 contains a list <strong>of</strong> examples <strong>of</strong>
techniques used in this categorisation <strong>of</strong> KE techniques.
Table 9: Examples <strong>of</strong> KE techniques for Classification Knowledge
Category Examples
Classification Techniques Distinguishing goals
Decision analysis
Repertory grid
Triadic elicitation
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