THC-DAT: a document analysis tool based on topic hierarchy and context information

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel within-document analysis tool (DAT) topic hierarchy and context-based document analysis tool (THC-DAT) which enables users to interactively analyze any multi-topic document based on fine-grained and hierarchical topics automatically extracted from it. THC-DAT used hierarchical latent Dirichlet allocation method and took the context information into account so that it can reveal the relationships between latent topics and related texts in a document. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology is a case study. The authors reviewed the related literature first, then utilized a general “build and test” research model. After explaining the model, interface and functions of THC-DAT, a case study was presented using a scholarly paper that was analyzed with the tool. Findings – THC-DAT can organize and serve document topics and texts hierarchically and context based, which overcomes the drawbacks of traditional DATs. The navigation, browse, search and comparison functions of THC-DAT enable users to read, search and analyze multi-topic document efficiently and effectively. Practical implications – It can improve the document organization and services in digital libraries or e-readers, by helping users to interactively read, search and analyze documents efficiently and effectively, exploringly learn about unfamiliar topics with little cognitive burden, or deepen their understanding of a document. Originality/value – This paper designs a tool THC-DAT to analyze document in a THC way. It contributes to overcoming the coarse-analysis drawbacks of existing within-DATs.