Information retrieval techniques have been applied to biomedical research for a variety of purposes, such as textual document retrieval and molecular data retrieval. As biomedical research evolves over time, information retrieval is also constantly facing new challenges, including the growing number of available data, the emerging new data types,…

Discovery layers provide a simplified interface for searching library resources. Libraries with limited finances make decisions about retaining indexing and abstracting databases when similar information is available in discovery layers. These decisions should be informed by student success at finding quality information as well as satisfaction…

SOME MACHINE-PRODUCED INDEXES ARE COMPARED TO ASSIST IN DECIDING ON THE FORMAT FOR A PROPOSED INDEX. THE OBJECTIVES OF AN INDEX AND THE SEARCH PROCEDURE ARE ANALYZED, AND AN EXPLANATION AND A RELATIONSHIP IS GIVEN FOR KEY-WORDS-IN-TITLE AND KEY-REFERENCES OF THE SAME ARTICLE. BASED ON THE COMPARISON OF THE INDEXES, A 53- YEAR CUMULATIVE INDEX WAS…

The retrieval effectiveness of Keywork-In-Context (KWIC) indexing is sought using a simple search simulation which constrains the user to approach a KWIC index with subject keywords and references dictated by a conventional index. A comparison of several KWIC index studies, using various methodologies, shows retrievability ratios of 35 percent -…

This volume contains the first two lessons of a course in subject indexing based upon the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) Thesaurus, Lesson 1 is an introduction to indexing, containing definitions and concepts related to the theory of indexing and information retrieval as well as an introduction to the ERIC Thesaurus. Lesson 2 is…

The author discusses information retrieval systems with particular emphasis on the assignment of descriptor terms. She first explains the method of determining terms by deriving key words from a title or abstract, a procedure that can often be carried out by a computer. After discussing the problems of derived indexing, the author explains the…

This paper compares two types of cycling strategies possible in citation index searching. This is done using a class of pseudo-randomly generated citation digraphs whose elements have bounded bibliography size. An attempt is made to explain the results obtained using a combinatorial formula of general application to digraphs. (10 references)…

Several problems of finding keys in directories are considered. Methods of searching ordered and unordered directories are analyzed. Searching on ranges of key values in also considered. Finally, design tradeoffs among the classes of directory and searching strategies are developed. (4 references) (Author/SJ)

Directives and guidance in obtaining current medical literature are provided in this publication with special emphasis given to locating material in the Portland, Oregon area. The uses and types of periodical indexes are identified and periodical index citation examples are indicated. Explanations are offered on: (1) how to conduct an effective…

The operational retrospective retrieval service offered by BIOSIS exploits a file created essentially without vocabulary control. A pragmatic program of file building criteria has been persued which has provided improved retrieval and an annual summary of the vocabulary of the literature. (11 references) (Author/KE)

The experiments involved 11,571 abstracts (with titles), 1,000 key-word stems and 93 search requests. Measures of word association are derived in several ways from the numbers of documents in which two given words co-occur, and measures of similarity from the numbers of words associated with both. Word clusters with different degrees of overlap…

Some of the factors that must inevitably affect the assessment of printed indexes are discussed, together with the observation of two unexpected phenomena, namely an apparent relationship between precision and searching effort, and relationships between generality and both recall and fallout. (4 references) (Author)

Reviews the origins of post-coordinate searching and emphasizes that the focal point should be on the searcher, not on the item being indexed. Highlights include the history of the term information retrieval; edge notched punch cards; the "peek-a-boo" system; the Uniterm system; and using computers to search for information. (LRW)

The object of this study was to record detailed descriptions of the procedure employed in a number of actual searches of the indexes to Science Abstracts. From these data, any problems which the users encounter would be shown and any areas in which the indexes might be better structured to suit the users' requirements might be determined.…

An experiment was conducted to design a corporate author index to a large bibliographic file. The nature of corporate entries necessitates a different search key construction from that of personal names or titles. Derivation of a search key to select distinct corporate entry records is discussed. (7 references) (Author)