Utility‐theoretic indexing

Patrick Wilson

Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 1979, vol. 30, issue 3, 169-170

Abstract: Utility‐theoretic indexing as presented by Cooper requires prediction of the consequences of each indexing decision. Cooper appears to think that this is the most rational way of indexing and can be known a priori to be preferable to alternatives. But its practical success is not guaranteed in advance; its claim to superior rationality rests only on its appeal to the consequences of decisions. One may rationally choose either individual actions or rules and policies for action: the requirements of rationality do not exclude action according to nonpredictive rules. Areas of choice are known in which predictive rules are inferior to nonpredictive rules. If Cooper's rule is practically superior to others, this cannot be known without appeal to experience.

Date: 1979
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