A fundamental problem in the two broad approaches to indexing in the social sciences--providing structure using preferred terms, cross references, and groupings of sets of materials, or compiling a concordance of an author's terms based on occurrence, leaving users free to impose their own structure--is that different indexers and users focus on…

This paper deals with the problem of the referencing or storing methods in information systems which must be designed to allow for rapid retrieval of the key data leading to the desired information or the recovery of the information directly. Considered as a secondary, but frequently desirable, feature for the system is the ability to determine…

Describes a system developed at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) that automatically converts index terms from the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) to NASA thesaurus terms. The NASA Lexical Dictionary (NLD) that generates thesaurus terms for indexing is explained, and the development of machine-aided indexing is…

Details the characteristics of authority records in the machine readable Library of Congress Subject Headings. Statistics are given on occurrences of variable length fields and the length and maximum length of such fields in subject heading records. The usefulness of these statistics for system design is discussed. (five references) (CLB)

Describes the inability of traditional subject index terms to represent relational information among concepts, and the development of frame based knowledge representation methods that provide relational semantic representations of documents and user queries. The discussion covers research in user interfaces and automatic document classifications,…

Describes the use of machine aided indexing as part of NASA's information systems. The discussion covers reasons for incorporating machine aided indexing, the lexical dictionary used, subject switching, natural language processing, benefits to the system, and possible future developments. (CLB)

A modified Keyword Out of Context (KWOC) system was developed to gain rapid control over more than 8,000 scattered, unindexed documents. This was the first step in providing the technical information support required by Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory scientists and engineers. Implementation of the KWOC system, computer routines, and…

Recent work on the development of Synthesized User Based Terminology Index Languages (SUBTIL), i.e., index and query languages for information systems which employ vocabulary elicited from potential users of the system, is described in this paper. Following a brief review of the literature on thesaurus construction and index languages is a…

Reports on axiomatic approach to systems design that has emanated from documentation work in field of chemistry and closely related disciplines. It is based on five axioms: definability, order, sufficient degree of order, representational predictability, and representational fidelity. Mandatory indexing is discussed; a glossary is appended. (106…

Argues that online search capabilities are a form of indexing and that access is determined by the total mix of preexisting and added "search capability" indexing. The design of a "superthesaurus," geared to the needs of users and to online rather than manual searching, is proposed as part of a user friendly interface. (19…

Describes online catalog research being conducted in Europe in the areas of interaction and interface design, subject access, functional improvement through the application of information retrieval techniques, and library networks. Three operational online catalogs, not available outside Europe, are discussed. (30 references) (CLB)

Outlines an approach to the automatic construction of a knowledge base resulting in a system that is able in each phase of its construction to acquire domain knowledge from all new information that it is building, particularly index terms. Topics covered include production rules, the use of semantic networks, and user interfaces. (32 references)…

Describes the three subsystems of an information retrieval system (document descriptions, queries, and matching algorithms) and argues that the interdependency of these subsystems requires adaptation for the system to perform when any component changes. An algorithm for redescribing documents, in response to changes in queries and retrieval rules,…

Discusses the motivation for integrating information retrieval and database management systems, and proposes a probabilistic retrieval model in which records in a file may be composed of attributes (formatted data items) and descriptors (content indicators). The details and resolutions of difficulties involved in integrating such systems are…

Reviews the problems of users of online public access catalogs and argues that it is necessary to think of all searching problems as systems problems rather than user failures, and to concentrate research in the area of systems enhancements. A list of improved tools needed for subject searching in online catalogs is identified. (CLB)