INFS 321 Information Sources Session 10 Indexes & Abstracts Lecturer: Prof. Perpetua S. Dadzie, DIS Contact Information: pdadzie@ug.edu.gh College of Education School of Continuing and Distance Education 2014/2015 2016/2017 godsonug.wordpress.com/blog
Session Overview At the end of the session, the student will be able to : Indicate what indexes and abstracts are State usefulness of indexes and abstracts State criteria for the evaluation of Indexes and Abstracts Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 2
Session Outline The key topics to be covered in the session are as follows: Topic One : Definitions and uses of Indexes Topic Two: Definitions and uses of abstracts Topic Three: Searching Indexes and Abstracts Topic Four: Selection and evaluation of indexes and abstracts Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 3
Reading List Katz, A. William (2002) Introduction to Reference, Work Vols. I & II, 8 th ed. Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 4
Topic One INDEXES AND ABSTRACTS Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 5
Definitions systematic listings of works that tell where information can be located Systematic guide to the text of any reading matter or to the contents of other collected documentary material, comprising a series of entries, with headings arranged in alphabetical or other chosen order and with reference to show where each item indexed ted. is Slide 6 Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS
Definitions 2 A detailed alphabetical list of names, terms, topics, places, formulae, numbers or other significant items in a completed work with exact page references to material discussed in that work Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 7
Uses of Indexes To find articles in periodicals and newspapers. Dissect what is inside periodical or newspaper so that user has access to individual articles Employed to research topics of current interest. Enable user to find easily material on a specific subject or specific article. Help deǀelop oŷe s uŷderstaŷdiŷg of a contemporary debate variety of materials found on controversial topic from different points of view
Uses of Indexes 2 reǀeal ŵore fulllj ĐoŶteŶts of liďrarlj s ĐolleĐtioŶ (liďrarlj s Đatalog does Ŷot proǀide ađđess to entire contents; catalog may confirm the holdings of a periodical title but not its contents) To research a subject not yet written about in books Allow quick access to contents of books
Types of Indexes Indexes to indexes Indexes to collections Periodical indexes News indexes Pamphlet indexes Book indexes
Periodical Index list authors, titles, or subjects of publications without comment Periodical and News indexes index publications known as serials serial - a puďliđatioŷ issued iŷ suđđessiǀe parts, usually at regular intervals and as a rule, intended to be continued indefinitely
Periodical Index 2 Periodicals a type of serial- "publication with its own distinctive title, containing a mix of articles... by more than one contributor, issued... at regular stated intervals of less than a year, without prior decision as to when the final issue will appear includes magazines and journals excludes proceedings
Important Periodical Index Ulrich s International Periodicals Directory guide to more than 164,000 periodicals and since 1993, newspapers Has separate indexes providing access to title, ISSN, online and CD-ROM availability, online vendors, title changes and refereed serials
Topic Two ABSTRACTS Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 14
Definitions concise and accurate summary of the essential contents of document Condensation that presents succinctly, objectives, scope and findings of document. Terse presentation of all points made in original piece of primary documentary information Summary of a document with adequate bibliographic details provided to enable
Definitions 2 Information usually conveyed together with an indexing system to further identify document content presents skeletal representation of the original document thereby serving as a true surrogate of the document As true surrogate, user might not need to see the original document.
Uses of Abstracts serves as substitute for the document, thereby saving valuable time for the user used for current awareness service or in retrospective search used to overcome the language barrier, as many documents in foreign languages usually have abstracts of their documents in English language; helps user to determine whether there is need to translate original document or not large number of papers published every year, abstracts facilitate selection of papers that user can read
Types of Abstracts Informative abstract - captures all essential points in the original document presents actual data and information contained in original document, giving enough details to have sufficient knowledge of original document Contains scope, purpose methodology, findings, conclusions and recommendations tend to be between 200 and 500 words.
Types of Abstracts 2 Indicative abstracts - provide an indication of the original document sometimes called descriptive abstract indicates type of document being abstracted, principal areas covered and the way facts are treated applies generally to non-research papers hardly provides actual content. cannot be used in place of the original document tells user what can be found in the document
Topic Three SEARCHING INDEXES AND ABSTRACTS Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 20
Searching Indexes & Abstracts These are done through Subject Headings. Subject headings are controlled vocabulary used by Indexer. Important to match search subject concept to term used by indexer. If iŷdedžer uses terŵ dǁelliŷg the user ǁill fiŷd ŶothiŶg if a searđh is ŵade for hoŵe uŷless ĐrossrefereŶĐes uŷder the listiŷg hoŵe ǁhiĐh states see DǁelliŶg
Searching Indexes & Abstracts 2 Two basic lists of subject headings consulted by reference librarians Library of Congress Subject Headings- lists the standard LC subject heading in alphabetical order Sears List of Subject Headings rough equivalent of the LC subject headings for smaller libraries. Fewer subject heading Thesaurus- Similar to subject heading list -list of terms used for indexing and for searching. Shows relationships between terms.
Topic Four SELECTION AND EVALUATION OF INDEXES AND ABSTRACTS Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 23
Selection process Expensive reference tools- cost characteristics of collection needs of users for access beyond what is already proǀided ďlj liďrarlj s Đatalog.
Evaluation Format: indexes and abstracts now exist in machinereadable form, CD-ROM; more powerful search capabilities with more access points; possibility of refining searches through using Boolean logic Scope - time period covered may not necessarily coincide with the period of publication; Frequency of publication affects currency; time lag in indexing ; Types of materials covered eg. substantive articles, letters to the editor and editorials
Evaluation 2 Authority: reputation of publisher or sponsoring organization and qualifications of the editorial staff Accuracy: Quality of indexing determined by depth and accuracy; authors associated with indexed item included in the author index? subject indexing - iŷdedžer s aďilitlj to represeŷt ĐoŶteŶt of puďliđatioŷ using terminology drawn from controlled vocabulary
Evaluation 3 Arrangement: alphabetical arrangement; abstracts - classified arrangement; printed sources access points limited to subject, author and title, in machine- readable form- offer many additional options for searching. Special features -list of periodicals or other sources indexed and a published list of subject heading.
Activity Visit any academic library of your choice and examine UlriĐh s IŶterŶatioŶal PeriodiĐals DireĐtorLJ
References Katz, A. William (2002) Introduction to Reference Work Vols. I chapter 5