[SAC-FAST] Arlene's questions

[Stephen Hearn]

I don't want Arlene's list of questions for the sample review to get lost 
in the discussion of chronological headings.  I like the list as a way of 
measuring the fit between the FAST headings and the item. We need to be 
careful for the second question that we don't hold FAST responsible for 
questionable LCSH heading-topical-subdivision assignments, though I doubt 
there will be many of those. And for the last question regarding 
chronology, I think we can evaluate the algorithm for deriving periods from 
LCSH headings--specifically, are there problems with significantly over- or 
understating the chronological scope of the item using the algorithm. I 
agree that this will not measure the usefulness of manually assigned 
chronological headings, but that's not what we'll have to review.

The other question we'd like to explore with the sample is how well the 
FAST headings work collectively for searching; but that will be harder to 
do. Such an evaluation would have to consider interface design, index 
configuration, sample size and focus--lots of variables not directly 
related to FAST. The other large question of what kinds of headings would 
be assigned if we let FAST loose in a world longing for unfettered 
simplicity can't be answered directly by the sample; but maybe 
indirectly--we could consider what FAST headings we might have chosen for 
an item, and why.

We also need to talk about how many records we'll be able to review. Five 
hundred records each is sounding awfully ambitious, unless we can come up 
with a tiered review--say, 100 records closely and quantifiably reviewed, 
400 records skimmed for anomalies and general impressions.

Stephen


****************************************************
Stephen Hearn
Authority Control Coordinator
Database Management Section Head
University of Minnesota
160 Wilson Library               Voice: 612-625-2328
309 19th Avenue South              Fax: 612-625-3428
Minneapolis, MN 55455      E-mail: s-hear at tc.umn.edu