Indexing & Abstracting Techniques MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Indexing & Abstracting Techniques - Download Free PDF

The Correct answer is (a) - (iv), (b) - (i), (c) - (iii), (d) - (ii)

Key Points

• COMPASS-
  • It is a simplified and cost-effective system, developed and introduced to replace PRECIS in 1990.
  • It was introduced for BNB in 1991, and PRECIS was dropped.
  • Compass is a simpler and less labor-intensive method of creating an index.
  • The resultant entries produce a simplified subject description, which was all that was felt necessary for subject searching.
  • Compass retains some of Precis’ special features, such as role operators, and allows for meaningful access to the records available in BNB.
  • The indexer who writes the COMPASS input string also assigns the appropriate DDC number in the field of the worksheet meant for BNB.
  • The initial step of subject analysis is done only once while preparing the COMPASS input string for a document and this input string is taken as the basis for all later decisions relating to the derivation of subject data for a given document, and their incorporation in the relevant fields of the worksheet. 
  • COMPASS was dropped in 1995 in favor of the "Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)".
• SLIC:
  • SLIC is a method for creating indexes that combine multiple elements or facets.
  • It was developed by J. R. Sharp in 1966
  • Components of SLIC:
    • Title Indexing: SLIC includes indexing based on titles, ensuring that users can find relevant resources by searching for specific titles.
    • Control Devices: These are used in SLIC indexing to enhance precision and consistency.
    • Role Indicators: Specify the role of an indexed term (e.g., author, subject).
    • Linking Devices: Connect related terms or concepts.
    • Weighting: Assign importance or relevance scores to terms.
• Nested Phrase Indexing System (NEPHIS):
  • The Nested Phrase Indexing System (NEPHIS), created by Timothy Craven in 1986, is an ad hoc string indexing system.
  • NEPHIS comprises a coding scheme and a computer algorithm designed for indexing documents based on their titles.
  • This system is specifically employed to generate individual index entries intended for back-of-the-book indexes.
  • The manual for the Nested Phrase Indexing System (NEPHIS) introduces, defines, and provides usage guidelines for the computer-assisted indexing system.​
• PRECIS-
  • It stands for "PREserved Context Index System (PRECIS)" brought out in the early 1968
  • PRECIS is a system of subject indexing in which the initial string of terms is computer-manipulated in such a way that each sought term in the string functions as the approach term while preserving the full context of the document.
  • It was developed by Derek Austin and applied to the British National Bibliography (BNB) in 1971 as an alternative to the chain procedure for deriving subject index entries.
  • PRECIS developed its own code for the preparation of input strings by the human indexer and their subsequent processing by a computer.

Key Points

• Vocabulary control refers to the process of standardizing the terms used to index and search for information in an information retrieval system.
• It aims to avoid inconsistencies such as synonyms, homonyms, and ambiguous terms, ensuring a clear and efficient way of retrieving relevant information.
• Unlike uncontrolled vocabulary, which allows for multiple, possibly conflicting terms for the same concept, controlled vocabulary eliminates confusion and improves search results. This is essential in maintaining accurate retrieval of information.

Objectives

• Consistency in Representation: Ensure that related documents are indexed consistently by controlling synonymous, near-synonymous, and homograph terms.
• Comprehensive Searching: Group-related terms for efficient and relevant search results, facilitating comprehensive searches across categories.

Requirements of a Controlled Vocabulary:

• Warrant: Justification for including terms, based on existing literature and user needs.
• Specificity: Should be detailed enough for accurate searches but general enough to cover broad topics.
• Pre-coordinate Structure: Using terms in a way that avoids false relationships.
• Consistency: Ensures accurate indexing by controlling synonyms and quasi-synonyms.
• Terminological Clarity: Avoids ambiguity by clearly defining terms and distinguishing homographs.

The Correct answer is A, C and D.

Key Points

• POPSI-
  • It stands for "Postulate-based Permuted Subject Indexing (POPSI)".
  • G. Bhattacharyya developed the POPSI through logical interpretation of the deep structure of subject indexing language (SIL) in 1980.
  • It prescribes the use of apparatus words – such as prepositions, conjunctions, participles, etc. when necessary.
  • It is built around fundamental theoretical ideas on classification, not on a specific classification system like class numbers.
  • It is based on Ranganathan’s General Theory of Library Classification.
• Entry Format:
  • In POPSI, a subject index entry is divided into three key sections:
    • Approach-term Section: Contains the approach-term, with or without upper links, helping in locating subject entries.
    • Organising Classification Section: Provides entries for organising classification, aiding in the understanding and relevance prediction of subjects.
    • Location/Address Section: Lists the serial numbers of records, assisting in finding the bibliographic information related to the subject.

The Correct answer is Subject analysis is done only once when preparing the COMPASS input string.

Key Points

• Computer Aided Subject System (COMPASS):
  • ​COMPASS, introduced in 1991 by the British Library, is a simplified version of the PRECIS indexing system.
  • It was developed to reduce cataloguing costs and improve subject indexing for both print and online systems.
  • The primary change in COMPASS was the removal of complex role operators used in PRECIS, making it more suitable for online searching.
  • Unlike PRECIS, which used role operators like (0), (1), and (5), COMPASS simplifies the indexing process by removing many of these operators.
  • It also uses a single entry point for the subject string, facilitating easier subject analysis and integration with DDC (Dewey Decimal Classification).
  • Historical periods are now included directly in the input string, and the system avoids using dates as a differentiating factor.
  • Instead, it aligns subject data directly with DDC numbers.
• Merits-
  • With the introduction of COMPASS, the printed subject index of BNB appears to be much shorter than the earlier one.
  • Codes and role operators used in COMPASS are very simple in comparison to PRECIS.
  • COMPASS is used not only for the generation of printed indexes for BNB, but it is also amenable to online searching. 
  • COMPASS appeared to be more user-friendly as users could find their way through the file without being unduly reliant on the class numbers.

The Correct answer is ​Four.

Key Points

• In the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH), four primary categories of subdivisions are recognized: topical, form, chronological, and geographic.
• Topical Subdivisions:
  • These are used to narrow a broad subject to a specific subtopic. Examples include:
  • Corn - Harvesting
  • Automobiles - Motors – Carburetors
  • Women - Employment
• Form Subdivisions:
  • ​Form subdivisions indicate the format in which information is presented.
  • They are placed at the end of the subject heading. Examples include:
  • Gardens - Dictionaries
  • United States - History - Periodicals
  • Some forms may have a "see also" reference, such as "Periodicals" under specific subjects like "Engineering - Periodicals."
• Chronological Subdivisions:
  • These show the time aspect of a subject and are placed last in a subject heading. Examples include:
  • United States - History - 20th Century
  • Art, Chinese - To 221 B.C.
  • Spanish literature - 20th Century - Periodicals
• Geographic Subdivisions:
  • ​These indicate the location or origin of a subject.
  • The "(May Subd Geog)" designation means the subject can be divided by location. For example:
  • Music - France - Paris
  • Construction industry - United States
  • Geographic subdivisions are typically added to headings representing countries, states, or regions and are placed after the subject. For example:
  • Construction industry - Italy
  • Construction industry - Government Policy – Italy

The correct answer is A, B and C only

Key Points

• Sears List of Subject Headings (SLSH) was first designed in 1923 by Minnie Earl Sears and published as its first edition in 1923 under the title "List of Subject Headings for Small Libraries" based on the headings used by nine small libraries of the USA.
• The fifteenth edition (1994) edited by Joseph Miller included for the first time the standard abbreviations of BT, NT, RT, SA, and UF
  • BT, for broader terms: Its practical implication is to prepare “See also” entry from broader to the narrower terms above given as the preferred
    heading.
  • NT for Narrow terms: These are subordinate terms to the preferred heading. For this, we also have to make see also references from broader to narrower terms. That is make a cross-reference from BT to all its NTs :
  • RT for Related terms: These are the terms at equal levels of hierarchy but are related to the entry in some way. Its practical implication is to prepare to see entries on a reciprocal basis.
  • SA for See Also.
  • UF for Used for
• The sixth edition was published in 1950 with the changed title as Sears List of Subject Headings The phrase for Small Libraries‖ was deleted from the title.
• In the second edition (1926) she added See also references.
• Isabel Stevenson Monro edited the fourth (1939) and fifth (1944) editions
• The sixth (1950), seventh (1954), and eighth (1959) editions were prepared by Bertha M. Frick.
• The thirteenth edition (1986) was prepared by Carmen Rovira and Caroline Reyes.

The Correct answer is (B), (C), (D) Only

Key Points

• Post-coordinate indexing:
  • ​Post-coordinate indexing is an information retrieval approach where search queries are formulated by combining index terms during the search process, as opposed to pre-determining all possible term combinations beforehand.
  • In a post-coordinate indexing system, index terms are allocated to individual records or documents, and each term is assigned a weight or value reflecting its significance or relevance to the document.
  • Illustrative examples include the Term Entry System and Item Entry System.
  • Uniterm, Peek-a-boo, Edge-notched card, and Duel Directories are examples that are developed based on the basic principles of the post-coordinate indexing system

Additional Information

• Pre-Coordinate Indexing System:
  • ​Pre-coordinate indexing systems involve combining index terms to create a search query before initiating the search process.
  • In 1911, Julius Otto Kaiser, a specialized librarian and technical literature indexer, introduced the Systematic Indexing method.
  • Notable examples of pre-coordinate indexing systems include Chain Indexing, developed by Ranganathan and utilized in the British National Bibliography (BNB) until it was replaced by PRECIS-indexing in the 1950s and 1960s. PRECIS (Preserved Context Index System) was devised by Derek Austin in the early 1970s for the BNB.
  • Additionally, POPS (Post-coordinate Subject Indexing) was developed by Dr. Ganesh Bhattacharyya, while COMPASS was introduced in 1990 but discontinued in 1995.
• Keyword indexing:
  • ​Keyword indexing relies on using natural language terms to create index entries.
  • This approach is also referred to as Natural or Free Indexing language.
  • H. P. Luhn developed the Key Word in Context Indexing (KWIC).
• Chain Indexing-
  • It is an economical system of providing access to the terms without replicating the hierarchical structure of the classification in the alphabetical index.
  • S.R. Ranganathan developed it and defined it as a “procedure for deriving class index entry (i.e. subject index entry) which refers from a class to its class number in a more or less mechanical way.”
  • Ranganathan first mentioned chain indexing in his book “Theory of Library Catalogue” in 1938.
• Optical Coincidence Card / Peek-a-boo:
  • ​Peek-a-boo is the trade name of the optical coincidence card.
  • It is also called ‘Batten Cards’.
  • One card may punch 500 to 10000 accession numbers depending on the card's size and the ruled squares' size.
  • Instead of putting an accession number (as is done in uniterm system), an item is indexed by punching a hole into the appropriate position that serves to represent the document number.
• Edge-Notched Card:
  • ​Indexing on Edge-Notched cards is based on a punched card system.
  • Their value is limited to a very small collection.
  • Features:
    • One card corresponds to one document
    • Number of holes on a card varies from 75 to 128.
    • A list of terms (term profile) associated with the thought content of the incoming documents is prepared along with their serial numbers
    • Each hole represents a particular index term

The Correct answer is ​(B), (C), (D) only;

Key Points

• PRECIS:
  • ​PRECIS (Preserved Context Index System) came into existence in 1968 and was developed by Derek Austin.
  • Schema of Role Operators in PRECIS:
    • Primary Operators​

• Environment of core concepts	0	Location
  Core concepts	1     2   3	Key System Things when action is not present. A thing towards which an action is directed, e.g. object of transitive action, performer of intransitive action Action; Effect of action   Performer of transitive action (Agent, Instrument); Intake; Factor
  Extra-core concept	4 5   6	Viewpoint-as-form Selected Instance: study region, study example, sample population Form of the document; Target user

  •  Secondary Operations:​

Additional Information

•  PRECIS was introduced in BNB in 1971.
• COMPASS was developed and introduced in 1990 to replace PRECIS
• The syntax of PRECIS is based on the role operators, codes, and logical rules which act as instructions to the computer.
  • Role Operator: Role operators consist of a set of alpha-numeric notations that specifies the grammatical role or the function of the indexed term and regulates the order of terms in the input string.
  • Codes: The use of codes in the string brings expressiveness to the resulting index entries. Three types of codes are there: Primary, Secondary,  and Typographic codes.
  • Input String: A set of terms arranged according to the role operators which act as instructions to the computer for generating index entries.

The Correct answer is 1919.

Key PointsThe Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):

• ​The Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) is an extensive thesaurus of subject headings maintained by the United States Library of Congress.
• The first edition of the Library of Congress list, called Subject Headings Used in the Dictionary Catalogues of the Library of Congress, was printed in parts between 1909 and 1914.
• Supplementary lists were issued as required, followed by a second edition in 1919. Later editions were published at irregular intervals.
• It serves as a controlled vocabulary in bibliographic records, encompassing more than 270,000 usable headings and over 490,000 headings utilized for cross-referencing.
• LCSH finds extensive application in cataloging.
• The Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) is organized into three main categories:
  • topical headings,
  • form/genre headings, and
  • name headings.​​
• The printed Library of Congress Subject Headings (Red Books) is being published annually.
• The 5th edition was published in 1948.
• In 1957 the 6th edition of LCSH was published with three columns of subject headings per page, a format that would remain constant through to 1999.
• The 34th edition of LCSH in 6 volumes published in 2012 is indispensable.
• The latest edition of LCSH is the 44th edition and was published in 2022.

The Correct answer is Citation indexing.

Key Points

• The indexing of authors within the field of library and information science is primarily linked with "Citation indexing."
• This method revolves around tracking and studying citations in scholarly articles to establish relationships between works and authors.
• Its primary function is to aid researchers in identifying related literature and comprehending the influence of particular authors or publications.
• While other types of indexing, such as keyword indexing and uni-term indexing, concentrate on subject content or specific terms, citation indexing specifically addresses the connections between authors in scholarly literature.

Additional Information

• Citation Indexes:
  • ​ALA Glossary of Library and Information Science (1983) defines the Citation Index as an index consisting essentially of a list of works that have been cited in other, later works and a list of the works from which the citations have been collected.
  • Citation Index is the contribution of Eugene Garfield to the " Institute for Scientific Information"(ISI); Philadelphia, USA
• Keyword Indexing:
  • ​Keyword Indexing, alternatively referred to as Natural or Free Indexing language, operates by utilizing natural language terminology to create index entries.
  • Its roots trace back to the nineteenth century as a "catchword indexing" system.
  • With the advent of computers in information retrieval during the 1950s, Hans Peter Luhn, an IBM engineer, introduced a computer-generated index in 1958, which eventually gained recognition as KWIC (Key Word In Context) indexing.
• Pre-coordinate indexing:
  • Pre-coordinate indexing is a traditional system where the indexer assigns subject headings representing compounds and arranges entries in a series of classes based on the document's subject content.
  • This system is commonly found in printed indexes.
  • In the Pre-Coordinate Indexing system, the coordination of components (index terms) is conducted during the input stage.
• Chain Indexing:
  • Chain Indexing, on the other hand, is an economical method of providing access to terms without replicating the hierarchical structure of the classification in the alphabetical index. It was developed by S.R. Ranganathan, who defined it as a "procedure for deriving class index entry (i.e., subject index entry) which refers from a class to its class number in a more or less mechanical way." Ranganathan first mentioned chain indexing in his book "Theory of Library Catalogue" in 1938.
• Uniterm indexing:
  • Uniterm indexing, introduced by Mortimer Taube in 1951, is a subject indexing system that facilitates quick lookups on topic keywords and allows cross-referencing across various topics to locate documents that correspond to all of the terms.
  • Although Taube initially referred to the concept as "Coordinate Indexing," it is now commonly known as Uniterm.
  • The output of a uniterm search is a collection of accession numbers that can be utilized to retrieve the relevant documents.

The correct answer is "Indexing".

Key Points

• Abstracting - 
  •  An abstract is a summary of the core content of documents that helps users to determine if they are required to read the entire document or not.
• Archival - 
  • ​Historical manuscripts, isolated letters of ancient rulers, copper plates, and stone inscriptions, besides a host of other artifacts, are popularly known as archives.
  • Archives are a greater or a lesser faction of records of an organization, institution, or individual which are preserved for their enduring value whether they are current or noncurrent.
• Indexing-
  • It is predominantly a systematic subject listing according to a scheme of subject headings.
  • Dr. S. R. Ranganathan was the first to analyze the universe of subjects in depth and suggest a complete theory of naming subjects using a subject-indexing language.
• Full-Text-
  • Full Text is a compilation of documents in which the complete text of each referenced document is available for online viewing, printing, or downloading.

Additional Information

• Library Literature and Information Science-
  • Library Literature and Information Science is an Indexing.
  • It Indexes over 410 library and information science periodicals published internationally.
  • It is being produced and published by EBSCO Information Services.
  • It served as Bibliographical indexing from 1984 to the present. However, started Full-text coverage from 1997
  • It includes full-text, indexing, and abstracts for journals covering all related subjects, including librarianship, classification, and cataloging.

The Correct answer is ​False link.

Key Points

• Mechanism of Chain Indexing:
  • False Link:
    • ​​Chain Indexing involves the use of False Links, which are links originating from non-semantic digits, specifically indicator digits.
    • These indicator digits can be punctuation marks found in the CC, the digit 0 (zero), or a period (.).
    • Unlike representing a subject, a False Link serves as an indicator for the upcoming facet type.
    • Ranganathan classifies the Time Facet as a False Link, as it may not align with a specific verbal heading (CCC-5th ed., Rule KB Number 5, p. 288)
  • Unsought Link:
    • ​It is a substantive heading on which either there is no published material or a user is unlikely to ask or look for material on that subject in the library.
    • But it is not anything absolute and may differ from library to library.
    • It may depend upon the factors listed in the CCC itself (KB3, p. 288).
  • Sought Link:
    • ​It is a link that is neither false nor unsought.
    • The first link is always a sought heading.
    • The last link too is a sought heading if it does not end with a Time Facet.
    • A link from the Time Facet is a False Link.
    • Each Sought Heading generates one Class Index Entry. Thus, the number of class index entries depends upon the number of sought headings in the chain.
  • Upper Link:
    • ​It could be any link other than the last link.
    • It is relative to the broader/narrower terms.
    • An upper link for one may be a lower link for another.
  • Lower Link: A link next to its upper link
  • Missing Link:
    • ​It is a bypassed link that occurs in an un-modulated chain.
    • It is an invisible link without its rightful upper link

Additional Information

• Chain Indexing:
  • ​Chain Indexing is a cost-effective method for facilitating access to terms without duplicating the hierarchical arrangement of the classification in the alphabetical index.
  • Devised by S.R. Ranganathan, it is characterized as a "procedure for generating class index entries (i.e., subject index entries) that point from a class to its class number in a relatively mechanical manner."
  • To put it succinctly, chain indexing streamlines and simplifies the process of creating subject index entries based on the class numbers.

The correct answer is A, B, and E only.

Key Points

• KWIC
  • ​The term KWIC was first coined by Hans Peter Luhn.
  • It was first proposed for Manchester libraries in 1864 by Andrea Crestadoro.
  • A KWIC index is formed by sorting and aligning the words within an article title to allow each word (except the stop words) in titles to be searchable alphabetically in the index.
  • A KWIC index is a special case of a permuted index.
  • This term refers to the fact that it indexes all cyclic permutations of the headings.
  • Each KWIC index entry comprises three components:
    • Keyword: Key title words used for access.
    • Context: Remaining title terms that specify the document's context
    • Identification Code: A unique code, often a social number, indicating where full bibliographical details can be found.
  • KWIC indexing system consists of three steps
    • Step I: Keyword selection
    • Step II: Entry generation
    • Step III: Filing

The correct answer is B, D, and E only.

Key Points

• Assigned Indexing:
  • The process of indexing in which a human indexer selects one or more subject headings or descriptors from a list of controlled vocabulary to represent the subject(s) of a work.
  • It is also known as Assignment Indexing and Concept Indexing.
  • Some notable examples of assignment indexing are chain indexing, PRECIS, POPSI, classification schemes, etc​

Additional Information

• ​Pre- coordinate Indexing-
  • The pre-coordinate index constitutes a collection of index entries in which concepts from documents are coordinated according to a plan using a linear sequence.
  • Those precoordinated indexes when arranged alphabetically are known as alphabetical subject indexes and when arranged according to a scheme of classification they are known as classified indexes or classified catalogs.
  • All pre-coordinate indexing models are based on classificatory principles such as facet analysis and synthesis.
  • ​For example-  Chain procedure, PRECIS, COMPASS, POPSI, etc.​
• Post- coordinate Indexing-
  • The indexing system which has the ability to freely coordinate terms at the time of the search, providing an unlimited number of access points to a document belongs to the post-coordinate or coordinate indexing models.  
  • Post-coordinate indexing system was first conceived by Mortimer Taube in 1953 as a means of organizing the research reports acquired by the US Armed Services Technical Information Agency.
  • The most important feature of the post-coordinate indexing system is that "No sequence of terms or citation order is necessary".
  • For example-  Uniterm Indexing.​
• Chain Indexing-
  • S.R. Ranganathan developed it and defined it as a “procedure for deriving class index entry (i.e. subject index entry) which refers from a class to its class number in a more or less mechanical way.” 
  • Ranganathan first mentioned chain indexing in his book “Theory of Library Catalogue” in 1938.
  • It is an economical system of providing access to the terms without replicating the hierarchical structure of the classification in the alphabetical index.

The correct answer is ​Two-Line-Three-Part.

Key Points

• PRECIS-
  • It stands for "Preserved Context Index System (PRECIS)" brought out in the early 1968s.
  • PRECIS is a system of subject indexing in which the initial string of terms is computer-manipulated in such a way that each sought term in the string functions as the approach term while preserving the full context of the document.
  • It was developed by Derek Austin and applied to the British National Bibliography (BNB) in 1971 as an alternative to the chain procedure for deriving subject index entries.
  • PRECIS is a special Two-Line-Three-Part entry format used to preserve important characteristics.

• Lead: The "lead" position acts as the user's search term when using the index.
• Qualifier: It's the term or terms that add context to the lead term, giving it a broader meaning.
• Display: The remaining portion of the string that maintains the context.

Additional Information

• POPSI-
  • It stands for "Postulate-based Permuted Subject Indexing (POPSI)".
  • G. Bhattacharyya developed the POPSI through logical interpretation of the deep structure of subject indexing language (SIL) in 1980.
  • It prescribes the use of apparatus words – such as prepositions, conjunctions, participles, etc. when necessary.
  • It is based on Ranganathan’s General Theory of Library Classification.