Sources of polysemy in indexing practice: The case of games, experimental in MeSH
Polysemy in practice (the use of one indexing term to represent several different concepts) can be detected through contextual co-descriptor analysis and content analysis. The research reported here demonstrates this through the co-descriptor profiles and content analysis of the primary research literature indexed with the MeSH term GAMES, EXPERIMENTAL over the years 1974-1999 and 2005-2012. The indexing profiles illustrate an early-to-late period shift in goals from a 70% focus on education to a divided focus (?60% total) on various aspects of individual and interactive decision making. In a content analysis of reported games, word puzzles, adaptations of quiz and board games, and simulations/role playing dominated in 1974-99goals and activities not congruent with the game-theoretic notion of a game. In 2005-2012, game-theoretic scenarios and individual risky-decision activities (e.g. Iowa Gambling Task) dominated. Overall, it appears that indexers relied on the occurrence of the term game in the article and/or the more common notion of what a game is in indexing the article. This was particularly evident in the early time period, before the rise of experimental economics/game theory, but even in recent years, the term is used to tag a wider variety of activities than would be expected by the term's position and syndetic relationship.
polysemy indexing games mesh content analysis