BIB-VERSION:: CS-TR-v2.0
          ID:: STAN//CS-TR-83-996
       ENTRY:: May 29, 1995
ORGANIZATION:: Stanford University, Department of Computer Science
       TITLE:: Strategic explanations for a diagnostic consultation system
        TYPE:: Technical Report
      AUTHOR:: Hasling, Diane Warner
      AUTHOR:: Clancey, William J.
      AUTHOR:: Rennels, Glenn
        DATE:: November 1983
       PAGES:: 30
    ABSTRACT:: This paper examines the problem of automatic explanation of
               reasoning, especially as it relates to expert systems. By
               explanation we mean the ability of a program to discuss what
               it is doing in some understandable way. We first present a
               general framework in which to view explanation and review
               some of the research done in this area. We then focus on the
               explanation system for NEOMYCIN, a medical consultation
               program. A consultation program interactively helps a user to
               solve a problem. Our goal is to have NEOMYCIN explain its
               problem-solving strategies. An explanation of strategy
               describes the plan the program is using to reach a solution.
               Such an explanation is usually concrete, referring to aspects
               of the current problem situation. Abstract explanations
               articulate a general principle, which can be applied in
               different situations; such explanations are useful in
               teaching and in explaining by analogy. We describe the
               aspects of NEOMYCIN that make abstract strategic explanations
               possible--the representation of strategic knowledge
               explicitly and separately from domain knowledge--and
               demonstrate how this representation can be used to generate
               explanations.
       NOTES:: [Adminitrivia V1/Prg/19950529]
         END:: STAN//CS-TR-83-996