Some methodological aspects of tacit knowledge elicitation

Methodological aspects of tacit knowledge elicitation with the aim of building expert systems are examined. Important aspects of expertise exerting considerable influence on knowledge elicitation have been enumerated and briefly described. Problems of knowledge elicitation are discussed in the light of findings of neuropsychology, investigations on brain asymmetry in particular. Several hypotheses in the course of the authors' work on development of expert systems in areas of psychology, human physiology and medical diagnostics have been formulated. In the framework of these hypotheses, the following points are discussed: the role of visual stimulus in the process of knowledge elicitation, expert strategies of the visual information analysis, in influence exerted by the expert experience and formulation of question posed to the expert on his/her choice of strategy, alternation of strategy prepotency; exponential decrease of effectiveness of each strategy application and special significance of the end-insight. Proceeding from the principal propositions of the hypotheses having been formulated, methodological rules have been advanced, which can be assumed as a basis in working-out the semi-structured interview.