An index is an indirect shortcut derived from and pointing into a greater volume of values, data, information or knowledge. Index may refer to:
A database index is a data structure that improves the speed of data retrieval operations on a database table at the cost of additional writes and storage space to maintain the index data structure. Indexes are used to quickly locate data without having to search every row in a database table every time a database table is accessed. Indexes can be created using one or more columns of a database table, providing the basis for both rapid random lookups and efficient access of ordered records.
An index is a copy of select columns of data from a table that can be searched very efficiently that also includes a low-level disk block address or direct link to the complete row of data it was copied from. Some databases extend the power of indexing by letting developers create indices on functions or expressions. For example, an index could be created on upper(last_name)
, which would only store the upper case versions of the last_name
field in the index. Another option sometimes supported is the use of partial indices, where index entries are created only for those records that satisfy some conditional expression. A further aspect of flexibility is to permit indexing on user-defined functions, as well as expressions formed from an assortment of built-in functions.
In statistics and research design, an index is a composite statistic – a measure of changes in a representative group of individual data points, or in other words, a compound measure that aggregates multiple indicators. Indexes summarize and rank specific observations.
Much data in the field of social sciences is represented in various indices such as Gender Gap Index, Human Development Index or the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Item in indexes are usually weighted equally, unless there are some reasons against it (for example, if two items reflect essentially the same aspect of a variable, they could have a weight of 0.5 each).
Constructing the items involves four steps. First, items should be selected based on their face validity, unidimensionality, the degree of specificity in which a dimension is to be measured, and their amount of variance. Items should be empirically related to one another, which leads to the second step of examining their multivariate relationships. Third, indexes scores are designed, which involves determining their score ranges and weights for the items. Finally, indexes should be validateds, which involves testing whether they can predict indicators related to the measured variable not used in their construction.
In Canadian English, the term college usually refers to a technical, applied arts, or applied science school. These are post-secondary institutions granting certificates, diplomas, associate's degree, and bachelor's degrees.
In English Canada, the term "college" is usually used to refer to technical schools that offer specialized professional or vocational education in specific employment fields. They include colleges of applied arts and technology, colleges of applied sciences, etc.
In Ontario and Alberta, and formerly in British Columbia, there are also institutions which are designated university colleges, as they only grant under-graduate degrees. This is to differentiate between universities, which have both under-graduate and graduate programs and those that do not. There is a distinction between "college" and "university" in Canada. In conversation, one specifically would say either "They are going to university" (i.e., studying for a three- or four-year degree at a university) or "They are going to college" (suggesting a technical or career college).
College is a St. Louis MetroLink Red Line station serving Southwestern Illinois College in Saint Clair County, Illinois. The station is east of Belleville, Illinois on Illinois Route 161 and west of Scott Air Force Base.
Coordinates: 53°47′23″N 2°42′47″W / 53.7896°N 2.7130°W / 53.7896; -2.7130
College is an electoral ward and one of the districts of Preston. The population of the Ward as taken at the 2011 census was 3,578. College is based in the Fulwood area in northern Preston, Lancashire, England. The ward is based in the Sharoe Green area with the name being derived from the central placement of Preston College.
The ward was split between the parliamentary constituencies of Ribble Valley and Preston. Following boundary changes in 2010, College became part of the new Wyre and Preston North constituency.
Two members of Preston City Council, elected 'in thirds' in first past the post elections each year, are returned from the ward.
The ward forms part of the Lancashire County Council electoral division of Preston Central North.
From the 2001 census, College had a population of 3,517 of which nearly 79% classed themselves as Christian.
College ward is an ‘L’ shaped ward in the northern suburban fringes of the city of Preston. It has the B6242 Watling Street Road in its southern base bordering Moor Park. This is the traditional border between the former separate Preston and Fulwood districts. The A6 Garstang Road is its western border, whilst to the east and north are suburban and private housing.