Raber, Douglas (2003) The Problem of Information: An Introduction to Information
Science. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press
Chapter Three – Review Handout
To prepare well for the examination, answer all questions.
1.
What Raber begins this chapter by describing “texts” as physical things, what
does he mean? (p. 51)
2.
What is at the center of the metaphor of information as a physical thing? (p. 51)
3.
Information can be stored, retrieved, and communicated…what does this
condition imply about information? (p. 51)
4.
What control problems are posed by the nature of information, especially in
today’s information age? (p. 52)
5.
How does conceiving information as a thing violate our intuitive expectations? (p.
52)
6.
What does the physical metaphor of information assume? (p. 52)
7.
What should information possess when thought of as a physical thing? (p. 52)
8.
How might the end-user’s interest in information serve as an objection to the
physical metaphor of information as a thing? (p. 52)
9.
So…what’s the point of studying information as a thing if in so doing one must
ignore (or detach) the content and meaning of the information [two
considerations]? (p. 52-53)
Chapter 3 Review - Handout
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Raber, Douglas (2003) The Problem of Information: An Introduction to Information
Science. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press
Chapter Three – Review Handout
10.
A science, whether about information or anything else, must begin with some
____________ of what ought to be regarded as the _____________
__________ of the problem it wants to _________ and the reality it seeks to
study and understand. (p. 53)
11.
What does the physical metaphor in information science (information as a thing)
begin by studying and then follow-up with studying? (p. 53)
12.
How does the physical metaphor approach the problem of information and what
is central to each question or study? (p. 53)
13.
Despite the fact that Raber includes any format (i.e., print, sound, images) in the
word “text” he illustrates his point of information’s distinct characteristics using
the format of a book. What distinct characteristics does he identify with a book?
(p. 54) [note: he also calls these “operational definitions” and “observable
characteristics” on page 55]
14.
What does Raber mean when he says “the book remains what it is and it remains
the same regardless of what we may think of it”? How does this statement
support or deny information as a physical object? (p. 54)
15.
For what subspecialty of information science is the fact that books can be
characterized by author, title and subject more important then the specific
content within those books? (p. 54)
16.
Control of information is based on what assumption that serves as the roots of
the physical metaphor, information as a thing? (p. 55)
Chapter 3 Review - Handout
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Raber, Douglas (2003) The Problem of Information: An Introduction to Information
Science. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press
Chapter Three – Review Handout
17.
In your own words, explain the analogy between the “wound spring” and
information from both the perspective of its potential and the effect of time. (p.
55-56)
18.
It is not possible for the meaning of information (the content) to play a role in
information retrieval, why? (p. 56)
19.
What do information systems require to be successful for retrieval? (p. 57)
20.
In your own words, what does Raber mean when he says, “The intangible and
subjective nature of information is transformed into objects or surrogates that
represent it, and information retrieval systems operate on and with these
representations”? (p. 58)
21.
Information science, guided by the physical metaphor “information-as-thing” is
focused on four objects, what are they? (p. 58)
22.
“It is vital to remember that information, in the ___________ __________ of the
__________________ of knowledge, is the only external, ______________
element in the communication process...each element must be capable of
_______________ ________________ (p. 59)
23.
What does Raber consider an “achievable goal” for information scientists? (p.
59)
24.
What is considered one common view of information science? (p. 60)
Chapter 3 Review - Handout
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Raber, Douglas (2003) The Problem of Information: An Introduction to Information
Science. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press
Chapter Three – Review Handout
25.
Why do information scientists seek a “logical, mathematical method” for the
analysis and control of textual aboutness (subject)? (p. 60)
26.
One logical, mathematical method includes vocabulary control, what is the
purpose of vocabulary control? (p. 61)
27.
What does it mean to achieve optimal output? (p. 61)
28.
One of the logical, mathematical methods used in information retrieval research
is set theory; what criteria must a set (or collection of items) meet? (p. 61)
29.
The second logical, mathematical method used in information retrieval research
is Boolean logic, what is it? (p. 61)
30.
Boolean logic may be applied to either controlled vocabularies or free-text
searches. What is the difference between these two? (p. 61)
31.
What are the three basic Boolean operators and what does each do for
searches? (p. 62-63)
32.
Draw an appropriate Boolean diagram that illustrates information retrieved on
only dogs and cats and only when they are together in a record, book or item. (p.
62-63)
33.
Draw an appropriate Boolean diagram that illustrates information on cats where
no information about dogs is provided. (p. 62-63)
Chapter 3 Review - Handout
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Raber, Douglas (2003) The Problem of Information: An Introduction to Information
Science. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press
Chapter Three – Review Handout
34.
Draw an appropriate Boolean diagram that illustrates information on anything to
do with dogs and cats whether they are together or separate in the record, book
or item. (p. 62-63)
35.
Visit http://www.hsl.creighton.edu/hsl/searching/Boolean_operations.html and
review Boolean logic along with the exercises and tutorial provided. Make notes
on things you’ve learned.
36.
Review proximity operators (similar to Boolean operators) by following this link:
http://www.hsl.creighton.edu/hsl/searching/ProximityOperators.html. Make notes
on things you’ve learned.
37.
Is it possible to combine Boolean operators? (p. 63)
38.
Boolean logic allows for relatively easy manipulation and control of the aboutness
of texts in large collections, true or false? (p. 63)
39.
What is the problem of information reduced to via the physical metaphor? (p. 65)
40.
What is the goal of information science research where information is a thing? (p.
65)
Chapter 3 Review - Handout
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