POPSI (Postulate-based Permuted Subject Indexing) was developed by G. Bhattacharyya in 1980. He created it by logically analyzing the deeper structure of subject indexing language (SIL). POPSI recommends the use of auxiliary words, like prepositions, conjunctions, and participles, when needed. The system is grounded in Ranganathan’s General Theory of Library Classification.
Postulate-based Permuted Subject Indexing (POPSI) is a pre-coordinate indexing system that applies different methods to structure and organize information effectively.
Key Features of POPSI
- Postulate-based: Derived from the postulates of classification, it uses clearly defined principles to organize subjects.
- Permuted: The indexing terms are permuted to generate multiple entry points, ensuring ease of retrieval.
- Faceted indexing: POPSI follows the faceted system where concepts are broken into categories or facets like personality, matter, energy, space, and time (PMEST).
- Linguistic and logical: It uses logical and linguistic operations to structure and order information.
Fundamental Categories of POPSI
POPSI defines four key categories as follows:
- Discipline (D): Refers to established areas of study, such as Physics, Medicine, and Political Science.
- Entity (E): Includes tangible or perceptible concepts, like Energy, Plants, Place, and Time.
- Action (A): Represents activities or processes, focusing on concepts related to actions or tasks.
- Property (P): Covers concepts related to characteristics or attributes, such as Effect, Efficiency, Power, and Property.
Steps of POPSI (Postulate-based Permuted Subject Indexing)
- Verbal Representation: The subject is first expressed in natural language, describing the topic or concept in a clear, concise manner using everyday language.
- Display of Components: Break the subject down into its fundamental components or facets, such as Discipline, Entity, Action, and Property.
- Short Display: Create a condensed version of the subject, showing only the core components or terms that represent the essence of the subject.
- Approach Terms: Identify the key terms or entry points through which the subject can be accessed, ensuring multiple ways for users to locate the material.
- Deriving Subject Index Entries: Use the approach terms to generate subject index entries. These entries are formulated by permuting the key terms to create multiple access points.
- Display of Subject Index Entries: Present the generated subject index entries for each permutation, giving users various ways to search for the same content.
- Cross References: Include cross-references to guide users from related terms to the main subject, ensuring they can navigate between interconnected topics easily.
- Alphabetical Arrangement of Entries: Organize the permuted subject index entries in alphabetical order to facilitate quick and easy retrieval.
Benefits of POSPI
- Provides multiple access points due to the permutation of terms.
- Based on a scientific and logical system.
- Flexible in handling complex subjects.
MCQs with answers based on POPSI (Postulate-based Permuted Subject Indexing)
- Who developed POPSI (Postulate-based Permuted Subject Indexing)?
- A) S.R. Ranganathan
- B) G. Bhattacharyya
- C) Melvil Dewey
- D) James Duff Brown
- Answer: B) G. Bhattacharyya
- In which year was POPSI developed?
- A) 1960
- B) 1980
- C) 1990
- D) 1950
- Answer: B) 1980
- What does POPSI stand for?
- A) Postulate-based Permuted Subject Indexing
- B) Practical Order Subject Index
- C) Pre-defined Optimal Subject Index
- D) Permuted Objective Subject Index
- Answer: A) Postulate-based Permuted Subject Indexing
- POPSI is based on the deeper structure of which language?
- A) Programming language
- B) Subject Indexing Language (SIL)
- C) Natural language
- D) Logical language
- Answer: B) Subject Indexing Language (SIL)
- POPSI is grounded in which library theory?
- A) Dewey Decimal System
- B) Colon Classification
- C) General Theory of Library Classification
- D) Library of Congress Classification
- Answer: C) General Theory of Library Classification
- Which type of indexing system is POPSI?
- A) Pre-coordinate
- B) Post-coordinate
- C) Hybrid-coordinate
- D) Free-indexing
- Answer: A) Pre-coordinate
- POPSI recommends the use of auxiliary words such as prepositions and conjunctions when necessary. These words are examples of:
- A) Discipline
- B) Approach terms
- C) Permuted entries
- D) Apparatus words
- Answer: D) Apparatus words
- What is a key feature of POPSI in terms of organizing information?
- A) It uses decimal numbers.
- B) It relies on postulates and permutes terms.
- C) It creates a single access point.
- D) It does not use facets.
- Answer: B) It relies on postulates and permutes terms.
- POPSI organizes concepts using which faceted system?
- A) DDC
- B) LCC
- C) PMEST
- D) Universal Decimal Classification
- Answer: C) PMEST
- Which of the following is NOT one of the fundamental categories in POPSI?
- A) Discipline
- B) Entity
- C) Action
- D) Space
- Answer: D) Space
- Which category in POPSI includes areas of study like Physics and Medicine?
- A) Entity
- B) Discipline
- C) Action
- D) Property
- Answer: B) Discipline
- In POPSI, which category refers to concepts like Energy, Plants, and Time?
- A) Discipline
- B) Property
- C) Entity
- D) Action
- Answer: C) Entity
- What does the Action (A) category in POPSI represent?
- A) Tangible objects
- B) Areas of study
- C) Activities or processes
- D) Characteristics or attributes
- Answer: C) Activities or processes
- Which category in POPSI deals with characteristics such as Efficiency and Power?
- A) Property
- B) Discipline
- C) Entity
- D) Action
- Answer: A) Property
- Which step in POPSI involves breaking the subject into fundamental components like Discipline and Entity?
- A) Verbal Representation
- B) Display of Components
- C) Short Display
- D) Alphabetical Arrangement
- Answer: B) Display of Components
- The final step in POPSI involves organizing the subject index entries by:
- A) Date of publication
- B) Facet type
- C) Alphabetical order
- D) Subject relevance
- Answer: C) Alphabetical order
- What is the purpose of permuting the terms in POPSI?
- A) To generate multiple entry points for retrieval
- B) To reduce the complexity of subjects
- C) To limit the access points
- D) To simplify classification
- Answer: A) To generate multiple entry points for retrieval
- What does the step of “Approach Terms” in POPSI refer to?
- A) Breaking down the subject into components
- B) Creating condensed terms
- C) Identifying key terms for access
- D) Arranging the terms alphabetically
- Answer: C) Identifying key terms for access
- Which benefit is associated with POPSI?
- A) Limited access points
- B) It follows an unstructured system
- C) Flexibility in handling complex subjects
- D) Single-method classification
- Answer: C) Flexibility in handling complex subjects
- What role do cross-references play in POPSI?
- A) They limit subject access
- B) They direct users to related subjects
- C) They act as auxiliary words
- D) They create new subject entries
- Answer: B) They direct users to related subjects
POPSI was a significant contribution to subject indexing, especially in handling multi-dimensional and complex topics in libraries and documentation centers.
