Computer‐aided searching in the INSPEC database: Analysis of subject indexing by INSPEC and the resulting cost and efficiency as related to various search strategies

Abstract

The first part of the paper describes the results of an extensive search into two factors which effect, to a high degree, the efficiency of online information retrieval: (i) the manner by which classification codes and keywords are chosen as a means of retrieval by the reviewers of the reference work (ii) the degree in which papers with comparable contents are accorded similar keywords. The influence of these two factors on the practical results is shown by the example of extensive searches: these searches were done manually as well as online. It was concluded that the efficiency of the assigned keywords was very low, owing to their insufficient accuracy and the large number of synonyms, spellings and other words that there may be to express one idea. The purpose of the analysis as described in the second part of the paper is to examine the possibility of finding a good search strategy, in spite of the low efficiency of the assigned keywords, that costs little and has a high efficiency factor. Therefore, a three‐fold situation is examined: (i) the relationship of the search strategy to (ii) the factors affecting cost, and (iii) the efficiency of retrieval. The problems arising in choosing a search strategy are examined; 14 different methods were selected from the large number of possibilities to formulate a search. A method of calculating the factors which affect the connect‐time cost and the offprint costs is worked out. The various strategies, employed to achieve the greatest improvements in cost and efficiency, include classification codes and keywords (subject headings and free terms). This procedure was carried out via an ESA terminal. The results are presented in the form of tables comparing the size of the factors affecting the cost, the judged cost per relevant item and the efficiency of retrieval. The conclusion is that the best search consists of using the classification codes, including the subject, coupled with some carefully selected free terms, for the simplest method, the lowest cost and the highest efficiency of retrieval.

Citation

de Jong‐Hofman, M.W. (1978), "Computer‐aided searching in the INSPEC database: Analysis of subject indexing by INSPEC and the resulting cost and efficiency as related to various search strategies", Online Review, Vol. 2 No. 2, pp. 175-198. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb023973