Page 185 - DLIS402_INFORMATION_ANALYSIS_AND_REPACKAGING

Information Analysis and Repackaging

Notes PRECIS (Preserved Context Indexing System)

Preserved Context Indexing System (PRECIS) was developed by Derek Austin in 1968 as a result
of long research which the Classification Research Group (CRG) undertook to give a new general
classification for information control. This system is considered as the most important development
in alphabetical approach to subject specification in recent years.
The system aims at providing an alphabetical subject index which is able to cater to the variant
approaches of the users along with their context. In order to achieve this objective, the system arranges
the components of a document, into a significant sequence, thus, all the important components in
the string are used as approach points. Simultaneously, the terms are displayed in such a fashion
that every term is related to the next term in a context dependent way. Moreover, the system is
amenable to computer operation, which further adds to the advantage of the system as the entries
will be prepared and arranged automatically by the computer.
Essential Features of PRECIS
PRECIS has the following important features:
1. The system derives headings that are co-extensive with the subject at all access points.
2. It is not bound to any classification scheme .
3. The terms are context dependent in nature, which enables the users to identify the entries
correctly.
4. The entries are generated automatically by the computer references between semantically
related terms.
5. It also provides adequate arrangement of references between semantically related terms.
6. It is a flexible system, as it is able to incorporate newly emerging terms accordingly.
7. It has introduced the PRECIS table which puts forth a set pattern for the preparation of
entries, thus bringing about consistency in work.
Concept of PRECIS
The concept of PRECIS deals with terms, strings, and role operators
Term: A term is a verbal representation of a concept. It may consist of one or more words.
String: An ordered sequence of component terms, excluding articles connectives, prepositions, etc.,
proceded by role operators is called a string. The string represents the subject of the document.
Role Operators: The Operators are the code symbols which show the function of the component
term and fix its position in the strings. These role operators are meant for the guidance of the indexers
only and do not appear in the index entry.
(a) Preparation of String: The main or the most important activity in PRECIS indexing is
the formation of the string. The preparation of string constitutes the following points:
(i) Context dependence
(ii) One-to-one relationship
(iii) Provision of role operators
The component terms are arranged in such a way that they are context dependant, at the same time
they are interrelated to each other.
Format of Entry
There are three formats of making index entries through PRECIS
1. Standard format
2. Predicate transformation format
3. Inverted format
1. Standard Format: In order to achieve the goal of context dependency and one-to-one relation,
PRECIS has adopted a display format, which constitutes three parts:

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