EFFECTS OF INDEXING AIDS ON INDEXING PERFORMANCE.
Abstract
The studies reported here are part of a program to isolate and obtain comparative data on the effects of aids to indexing on the quality of manual indexing. Two forms of aids were selected for special study as a result of an earlier finding of their extensive use by information centers. These aids were thesaurus or prescriptive list and the structured form. A third condition of no auxiliary aids was included to provide a standard for evaluating the effects of the aids. Two major classes of documents were used as subject matter for the indexing studies - intelligence messages and journal articles from three areas in the engineering and scientific literature. The analysis of indexing performance suggests that the quantity of information contained in these articles rather than the subject area is a major determinant of the indexing process. The remaining variable studied was the effect of indexing aids for subjects with differing levels of experience. The two groups were distinguished especially by the inability of inexperienced indexers to perform at a level equivalent to experienced indexers with complex aid forms. The primary measures used to compare the aids were speed of indexing, the accuracy with which articles are assigned to subject headings, and the amount of agreement with other indexers employing the same aid. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0804298
Entities
People
- Charles Fried
- James J. Prevel
Organizations
- General Electric