Search

The article presents information on the principles underlying the indexing system. The backbone of the indexing system is provided by codes for individual terms. The construction of these codes has been developed in such a way that the important aspects of the meanings of terms are rendered explicit and thus made available as reference points for defining and conducting searching operations. The establishment of codes based on semantic analysis has been greatly facilitated by preliminary systematization of the terminology.

This article informs that the information requirements can be specified in terms of one or more characteristic features. If the identification and selection of papers, patents, and other records is to be accomplished with the aid of automatic equipment, then such identification and selection must be formalized in terms of well-defined routine operations. The analysis of the subject content of documents is a necessary prerequisite to rendering them amenable to identification by machine searching operations. In conducting such analysis, the significance of the subject content of each document must be carefully considered in the light of its importance and probable usefulness to other workers in the field.

The article focuses on the use of automatic equipment to scan index entries recorded in the form of holes on punched cards, magnetized spots on tape, transparent spots on photographic film, etc. The purpose of machine searching might be defined as the identification of those records in a file that are characterized by a certain set of features. The records so characterized may be said to constitute a class in the logical sense of the word. This involves implications that are important both to the designer of the searching machine and to the designer of a system for analyzing and encoding records.

The article provides information on the process of collecting terminology for machine literature searching. Prerequisites for establishing codes are the collection and analysis of the terminologies of the fields of interest. Such terminology constitutes the building blocks to be used In constructing the code system for machine application. The first step was to collect appropriate terms. Three significant classes of scientific and technical terminology were largely omitted from the collecting effort, namely, organic compounds; plant, animals, and microorganisms; and medical terms and diseases. Phrases found in the terminology sources were broken up into their component words when this resulted in no loss of special meaning. The next step in processing collected terms was to provide each term with one or more definitions, as necessary.

The article focuses on the problems in indexing for machine literature searching. The essential steps in processing information preparatory to machine searching are (a) analysis of information as to its essential features, (b) expression of the latter in appropriate form, particularly in encoded form, and (c) recording encoded index entries on a medium that can be read by the machines. One of these steps involves an intellectual problem, and concerns how the subject matter of a document can best be analyzed by means of appropriate terminology. Another important problem is definition of the indexing as to range of interest. Interpreting index terminology into a form in which the machine can conduct searches is best accomplished by using coding system. In order that the codes may function satisfactorily with regard to machine operations, it is desirable that the indexing be as free of ambiguities as possible.

The article provides information on automatic literature searching methodology. Traditionally, only the simplest tools have been used to locate and correlate information. Classification has relied on pigeonholes or equivalent compartmentalization. The mounting mass of recorded information has required the use of increasingly narrow subdivisions, necessitating that finer and finer distinctions be made in analyzing subject matter. Modern automatic equipment is able to scan and recognize index entries made in the form of holes on punched cards, magnetized spots on magnetic tape, transparent spots on photographic film, etc. Preliminary experiments with automatic equipment for information searching have shown that the key problem is the analysis of information for its essential features and the expression of these features in some medium. The uncontrolled or careless use of terminology is a particularly dangerous pitfall.

The article provides information on making amenable indexes for machine literature searching. The new indexing system must be designed so that the key operations, namely, analysis of information, indexing, and operation of the machines, do not make excessive demands on human time and effort. Another requirement is that the machines themselves function rapidly and effectively; otherwise, the advantages of using automatic equipment may be lost. Once information has been analyzed in terms of features pertinent to a user's eventual interest, the index entries must be interpreted in a form such that operations can be conducted by machine. It is highly advantageous that generic terminology be available for defining and conducting searches without imposing any extra burden on the indexer.

American college students' self-reported status regarding 13 health-related behaviors, and several potential predictors of healthy behavior were assessed. Healthy behaviors were, at best, weakly related to being informed about or agreeing with a rule that the unhealthy alternatives were dangerous. Healthy behaviors were more strongly related to reports that guilty feelings would result from choosing the unhealthy alternatives and that friends would help with the healthy behaviors. Higher levels of reported self-control also predicted healthier behavior.