The main purpose of the experiment was to answer the question whether broad or narrow terms function most effectively in the retrieval of relevant documents. The answer depends on what the user of the retrieval system wants, his wants being expressed in terms of stated precision-recall preference, or by the exact number of relevant documents he…

Present day shortcomings in information retrieval are the results of a failure to properly contend with the problem of data representation. The index provides the necessary linkage between a multiplicity of sources and a single receiver. Whether considering the source/document-space interface or the query/index interface, the elements of the…

The Third Cranfield Conference on Mechanised Information Storage and Retrieval Systems was held on 20-23 July 1971 in Cranfield, England. The report describes a number of the key papers presented at this conference. (Author)

Presents card catalog approaches to bilingualism and biculturalism, with the intent of assisting the reader, specialist or not, in developing competence in using the standardized subject headings employed in the majority of research library card catalogs. (EJS)

Examines the prospects for the use of computers in solving linguistics problems and discusses questions of linguistic theory which relate to the functioning of a language within the communicatory system of "man-machine-man." (EJS)

Briefly reviews early work in documentation and text processing, and predictions that were made about the creative role of computers in information retrieval. An attempt is made to explain why these predictions were not fulfilled and conclusions are drawn regarding the limits of computer power in text retrieval applications. (Author/CLB)

Presents a methodology for extending string indexing from index display production to the provision of descriptor phrases for term proximity searching. Objectives of the extension are discussed, and an illustration of the use of an existing string indexing system for this purpose is given. (14 references) (CLB)

Explores differences in precision of terms used in subject access in the humanities, differentiating by the exactness with which the phenomena designated can be located in space and time. Samples of 200 terms from seven indexes in the humanities are classified according to five categories of terms. Six tables present results of data analyses. (22…

The issue of free-text versus controlled vocabulary is examined. The history of the issue, which is seen as beginning with the debate over title term indexing in the nineteenth century, is reviewed and questions not satisfactorily addressed by previous research are raised. (Author/EM)

An annotated bibliography of materials published during 1984-1985 on subject analysis covers classification, indexing, subject headings, and thesauri. The major theme is the need for improved subject analysis and the new computer technology is seen as the way to achieve it. (EM)

A programmed text with branching, recorded on an audiocassette, was developed and tested on 12 visually disabled college students. Eight participants voice-indexed recorded lecture notes, textbooks, and other assigned readings. Follow-up indicated that six out of seven of the students from the initial study still voice-indexed some of their…

Reports on study analyzing 13 abstracting and indexing (A&I) operations in order to ascertain those steps in specific processes that added value (i.e., were of benefit to user in making choices from information displayed). The user-driven/value-added model and a summary of value-added processes in A&I services are highlighted. (11…

Results obtained by processing a corpus of 2675 medical titles indicate that several properties definable in terms of inclusion relationships among terms have significance for vocabulary control. (Author)

Five classes in indexing and abstracting at the University of Texas at Austin have each produced indexes worthy of publication. Working on widely varied indexing projects, they have demonstrated that students can produce useful reference tools in the process of becoming effective indexers and abstractors. (Author)

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) efforts to develop a uniform catalog of integrated standard indexes from around the world are described. The purpose is to facilitate the search for standards. (SM)