SUPPORT DEVICE, SUPPORT PROGRAM, AND SUPPORT METHOD

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately determine user's current knowledge about a word.SOLUTION: A support device 10 specifies: a retrieval purpose of retrieving a retrieved word, based on the retrieved word and retrieval time for retrieving the retrieved word that are included in a first DB 13a, and also based on document use time and use attribute that are included in a second DB 13b; a use purpose of the retrieved word, based on a rate of use attribute of a document group that is used at the retrieval time for retrieving the retrieved word; and each state of current knowledge relating to the retrieved word and state of desired knowledge relating thereto, based on the retrieval purpose, the use purpose, and a fourth DB 13d. The fourth DB 13d includes the state of the current knowledge relating to a retrieval word and the state of the desired knowledge relating thereto by association with each other in accordance with the retrieval purpose of the retrieved word and the use purpose thereof. The support device 10 stores the retrieved word and the state of the current knowledge relating to the specified retrieved word and the state of the desired knowledge relating to the retrieved word in a third DB 13c by association with each other.