A Test of Buck's Prime Number Coding Scheme

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to study the effect of coding, as an independent variable, on the information retrieval process. A simple prime number coding scheme was utilized in conjunction with Goffman's indirect method file structuring and searching technique. The results demonstrated that a code, in itself, can affect retrieval. It introduces a noticeable variable into the process. Generally, coding has been considered a minor element, but clearly much more needs to be learned about how codes interact with the other functions in the retrieval system.