A comparative study of three systems of information retrieval: A summary

Norman D. Stevens

American Documentation, 1961, vol. 12, issue 4, 243-246

Abstract: Three approaches to the problems of information retrieval were examined to determine factors affecting conditions of use. Input costs and cost per usage were much higher for the mechanized approaches than for conventional library techniques. The mechanized system was, for certain types of questions, more efficient than the library reference approach in producing answers. The difference was not great enough to offset the higher basic costs; and a punched card‐handbook system of the type examined is not, therefore, recommended. Conditions under which such a system might be feasible, and what such a system should provide if used, are given. The major recommendation, however, points out the need to find ways in which library catalogs can be strengthened to provide a more efficient level of indexing and more ready access to concealed data.

Date: 1961
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.5090120401

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bla:amedoc:v:12:y:1961:i:4:p:243-246

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://doi.org/10.1002/(ISSN)1936-6108

Access Statistics for this article

American Documentation is currently edited by Javed Mostafa

More articles in American Documentation from Wiley Blackwell
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Wiley Content Delivery ().