Current Relevance of Zetetics to Library Research and Library Instruction

Marta A. Davis and Harry O. Davis

Abstract

Professor Joseph Tykociner (1877-1969) of the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois developed a science of research he called zetetics. The zetetic method has continuing relevance to library science, a discipline for which Tykociner had a particular attachment. This relevance requires a deductive process to translate zetetic principles for universal knowledge to the components of knowledge required by individual library researchers. The primary tool in such a process is the use of an information matrix to help library patrons understand what information they have and what they need to find. The matrix supports research formulation, research strategy and research documentation.

Introduction

Zetetics has a long and varied history, one of fluctuation and various colorations. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) gives the etymology as originating from the Greek word zetetikos, which means to seek or inquire. The OED defines the term zetetic as an investigation. Adherents of the ancient Greek sceptic school of philosophy were called Zetetics or seekers. Francois Viete, the father of modern algebra, applied the term in 1590 to the letters that express the known and unknown quantities in a mathematical equation.¹ Although generally absent from most modern dictionaries, the terms "zetetic" and "zetetics" do appear on the World Wide Web. The use of the terms there reflect a range of interests from scientific scepticism and paranormal investigations to occultism and more unorthodox perspectives in science and philosophy.

The more unorthodox perspectives have tended to give zetetics a doubtful place in scholarship and to obscure its other principal meaning, that of finding order in knowledge. This latter interpretation of zetetics is found in the writings of Joseph T. Tykociner. His use of the term gives emphasis to the relationships of known knowledge, to the use of organized knowledge, and to the use of knowledge as a catalyst to the discovery of new, additional knowledge.² This interpretation of zetetics has relevance to library and information science with respect to classification, indexing, subject headings, keyword use, Boolean logic, hierarchical knowledge, research protocol, research efficiency and library instruction. However, zetetics has received very little attention in library and information science literature.

Tykociner was a native of Poland, born in 1877. In 1921 he became a professor of electrical engineering at the University of Illinois, where he was recognized as an outstanding inventor and gained fame as the inventor of what was to become the sound motion picture.³ However, Tykociner's insight was both specific and broad, practical and theoretical. His interest in the organization of knowledge began in 1926 and evolved into his paramount concern, the science of research, which he called zetetics. He used a corresponding term, zetesis, to describe the research process in extending the body of knowledge. Tykociner's first formal publication related to zetetics was published in 1959, 11 years after his retirement from the University of Illinois.⁴

Few others seem to have built on the zetetic base formulated by Tykociner. A literature search reveals almost nothing by others about theoretical zetetics during his lifetime or after his death in 1969, although there is a body of literature for the sceptical interpretation of zetetics. Tykociner's research in zetetics was sufficiently respected to result in a series of memorial lectures at the University of Illinois, beginning in 1972 and numbering eight by 1988. Although these lectures are adequately connected to the zetetic principles established by Tykociner, they tend to give more emphasis to creative and inventive aspects and have limited relevance to library science.

It is the contention of these authors that renewed attention to zetetics may be productive in the design and use of databases and datafiles, formulating research content and strategy documenting research, and, consequently, in the roles of librarians guiding and assisting

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researchers. The purpose of this article is not to exhaustively explore the parameters of zetetics but to indicate its general utility and encourage attention to zetetics and zetesis by librarians and information scientists.

Basic Principles of Zetetics as Presented by Joseph Tykociner

In 1959, Joseph Tykociner first formally published his zetetic perspective in Research as a Science:

Zetetics.⁵ This was followed in 1964 by Zetetics and Areas of Knowledge⁶ and in 1966 by Outline of Zetetics: A Study of Research and Artistic Activity. ⁷In March 1967 he published A Description of the Arts and Sciences: Its Basis and Applications in Zetetics and Library Science.⁸ Tykociner's final paper, Zetetics and Its Relation to Education and Research, was read at the University of Illinois in December 1967 at the symposium "Science and the Human Condition." It was published in 1968. ⁹ Each of these works builds upon Tykociner's conceptualization of zetetics and, although theoretical, repetitive and replete with terminology, a perusal of these writings offers the careful reader an opportunity to realize practical applications in library instruction and the research process.

Tykociner's writings contain extensive epistemological discussion and analysis and are accompanied by a variety of complex diagrams and tables. At the heart of his concern is the universality of knowledge and how to access and classify knowledge or what he calls "research as a science." In his concern with a classification of universal knowledge, he also is concerned with gaps in human knowledge and the research needed to fill these gaps. Thus, zetetics as an inventory of knowledge, can assist in giving orientation, scope, direction and priority to research. The corollary concerns become the nature of research, the methods of research and the goals of research. Tykociner sought greater unification of knowledge and greater systemization in research.

Tykociner distinguishes between science and research, with the former being "the sum total of recorded systematized knowledge..."¹⁰ and the latter is the activity (zetesis) that extends knowledge.¹¹ Tykociner examines the relation of zetetics to various scientific disciplines and identifies 11 broad areas of knowledge to which zetetics relates. The 10th ring of his diagrammatic representation of knowledge is for those "sciences related to various phases and means of disseminating knowledge and developing skills, conserving all records and making them available for information and further research."¹² It is in this category that he finds a relationship of zetetics to library science, as well as to the science of education and to educational psychology, among other disciplines.¹³

The 1959 treatise by Tykociner introduces the concept of a "zetetic table" as a means of organizing and displaying units of known and as yet unknown knowledge.¹⁴ He displays such information as both two-dimensional matrices or grids and as three-dimensional block diagrams. What is significant is that the cells of such matrices or block diagrams can represent both the known and the unknown, or that which can be sought through research. His zetetic matrices reveal the possible relationships to be investigated. Tykociner viewed research as "the activity aimed at the conquest of knowledge from the vast expanses of ignorance" and zetetics as supporting the "strategy and tactics" to that end,¹⁵ Tykociner, working at the dawn of the modern computer age, foresaw much of the anxiety that can be attached to large amounts of information and he hoped that a more organized perspective on the totality of knowledge and the research process would foster greater research facility, efficiency and productivity.

Tykociner's 1964 publication summarizes his earlier perspective and adds recognition to "artistic creation" as a component of both zetesis and zetetics ¹⁶ and gives fuller consideration to "zetetic education." ¹⁷ The 1966 book revises and expands the material presented in the 1959 and 1964 publications, while retaining the basic definitions and principles. Of greater interest to the librarian and information scientist are the chapters relating to problematology, zetesis and what Tykociner terms "general methodology."¹⁸

Tykociner defines problematology as dealing with "the origin, systematization, delineation and selection of research problems" and adds that it includes the "automatic preparation of catalogs of such problems by means of computing devices." ¹⁹ Zetesis is defined in the 1966 text as "that activity which converts the unknown into the known and transforms our present state of knowledge into a more precise, a more expanded, and a more unified state." ²⁰ Although the section on general methodology ²¹ might otherwise be viewed as a discussion of the "scientific method," there are elements that can be inferred to apply to "library science" and to the methodologies used in serving library patrons undertaking research. The 23 steps given in his "general zetetic process" ²² are overly detailed for use in most undergraduate library assistance. However, the steps related to problem definition, the division of the problem into task components, attention to information interrelationships, the systematic recording of information, critical thinking and the presentation of research results are of interest to all researchers and to library use instructors.

Tykociner's book in 1967 provides an extension of what may be considered his unified epistemology, but adds little more to the concept of zetesis, or zetetic

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method, as it might be applied to librarianship. Despite the 1967 title's reference to library science, Tykociner's exposition rather consistently views knowledge and gaps in knowledge in the sense of an "inventory of all the arts and sciences." ²³ This tends to obscure an understanding of how his basic principles might be operative at a more individualized level of library research. Tykociner's final work was published in 1968 and summarizes his conceptualization of zetetics and zetesis and the dynamics of knowledge.²⁴

The Relationship Between Zetetics and Library Literacy

Technology has radically reshaped library services and redefined professional roles. The explosion of information has presented librarians with many new challenges. No matter what our position is in the library organization, our collective energies are focused on helping patrons find what they need as efficiently as possible. Instruction librarians, in particular, recognize their unique position and responsibility in this endeavor. Their particular mission is to educate patrons in the importance of information and how to competently locate, evaluate and use it independently. If we define library literacy as an ability to use a library effectively, then an understanding of zetetic principles can offer a contribution to achieving such literacy. This will result principally because library patrons will understand how bits of information relate and how to use such information to achieve a given knowledge goal.

Application of Zetetic Theory to Library Patron Use

Although Joseph Tykociner was very much interested in gaps in knowledge as research objectives and how an understanding of research practice (zetesis) could provide a greater understanding of these gaps and objectives, his writings are largely concerned with giving order to universal knowledge. Nonetheless, the zetetic principles presented by Tykociner are sufficient to allow more specific application to library research use. A shift of emphasis is required from larger to smaller units of knowledge and from more theoretical concerns to the more pragmatic concerns of individual researchers. This can be done with reasonable faithfulness to Tykociner's conceptualization of zetesis.

The zetetic matrix may be interpreted as an information matrix and a useful library instruction aid. Such a matrix (1) facilitates research topic formulation and organization, (2) structures literature searches, and (3) expedites documentation. Tykociner was concerned with the "true researcher," the person conducting research to discover and present new knowledge, information not previously systematized and recorded (but using old knowledge in the process). The librarian helps this level of researcher and also the student who is writing a term paper, which synthesizes and presents information new to him or her but not new to the world.

Novice researchers often need assistance in the initial two areas of research formulation: collecting background information and narrowing the topic. Often they lack adequate terminology to facilitate their search.When terms pertinent to the research and appropriate for literature searching have been identified, they can be arranged along the axes of a matrix to indicate subject relationships to be explored. The cells in the matrix then denote single subjects and subject combinations to be examined. The choice of terms for searching can be modified and expanded as suggested or required by the research in progress.

To illustrate the use of information matrices in library research, consider a patron who is interested in early 20th Century art pottery produced in Ohio. Research formulation begins with the patron writing subject headings or keywords and phrases on index cards, one phrase per card. Possible terms include "Ohio," "art pottery," "pottery, American" and the names of well known potteries such as Weller, Roseville and Rookwood. As background reading and research progress, additional terms are collected, such as the names of particular artists, glazes and techniques.

The patron takes the cards and arranges them on a flat surface so the connecting sides and corners indicate potential relationships and clarify the research focus. The chosen terms can be entered into a matrix, which graphs the research formulation. The same matrix, with some modification for search terms appropriate to various indexes, can be used for a literature search. An abbreviated example of a research matrix is shown in Figure 1.

Note that the matrix allows consideration of single terms, such as "Weller" or "art pottery," as well as linked or Boolean terms such as "Weller art pottery" or "Zanesville" and "potteries." The coded cells in the matrix can be used in various ways. For both research formulation and literature searching, the cells can be tagged for their degree of relevance. Some cells will represent topics of high value, while others can be marked as low in value or inappropriate for consideration. The coded cells in the matrix can also be used to record when the search of a particular keyword is complete for a particular index. This can be done in combination with documenting success in searching a term. For example, "18/5" in cell C3 in Figure 1 could indicate that 18 citations were found for the combination of "Roseville" and "art pottery" in a specified index and that five are useful. Additionally, cell codes (A, 1, A1, 2, B2, etc.) can be added to citations and photocopies resulting from useful searches, and

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Figure 1. Example of a Basic Zetetic Information Matrix for Research on Twentieth-Century Art Pottery Produced in Ohio (Using One Designated Database).

		1. Potteries	2. Art Pottery	3. Pottery, American
		(D	(2)	(3)
A. Ohio	(A)	(A1)	(A2)	(A3)
B. Rookwood	(B)	(B1)	(B2)	(B3)
C. Roseville	(C)	(C1)	(C2)	(C3)
D. Weller	(D)	(D1)	(D2)	(D3)
E. Cincinnati	(E)	(E1)	(E2)	(E3)
F. Zanesville	(F)	(F1)	(F2)	(F3)

this can contribute to maintaining research organization and to the writing process, because the codes will allow material related to specific search terms to be collected together.

Although zetetic matrices can be designed for multiple databases and for hierarchical groupings of subject terms and cognate terminology, a separate, basic information matrix for each index searched will probably be more successful with most patrons. Separate forms for separate indexes of databases will allow a better match with the thesaurus of terms used in a particular database and foster a more systematic sequence in searching. The intent of the matrix method is to aid the researcher in thinking more critically about his or her research goal and the research process, both conceptually and methodologically. The instruction librarian's aim is to educate life long learners. These are patrons who can independently assess what kind of information is needed and broadly understand what type of tools are likely to provide access to that information. The matrix method provides both a way to plan one's approach to research and to keep track of the process and the progress.

Summary

Zetetics is worthy of renewed consideration by librarians and information scientists. The basic principles promoted by Joseph Tykociner retain theoretical validity and contain practical value. Zetetics can be meaningfully applied to any of the arenas where knowledge is to be classified, sorted, accessed, used and documented. It warrants renewed and continued attention by those who promote access to knowledge. In particular, the principles embodied in Tykociner's concept of a zetetic table can be transformed into a zetetic information matrix useful to research formulation, literature searching strategy and literature search documentation.

Footnotes

1. Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., s.v. "zetetic."

2. Joseph T. Tykociner, Research as a Science: Zetetics (Urbana, IL: Electrical Engineering Research Laboratory of the University of Illinois, 1959), p. 2.

3. R. Alan Kingery, "The Man History Forgot," in Men and Ideas in Engineering: Twelve Histories from Illinois, by R. A. Kingery, R. D. Berg, and E. H. Schillinger (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1967), pp. 19-31.

4. Tykociner, Research as a Science.

5. Ibid.

6. Joseph T. Tykociner, Zetetics and Areas of Knowledge (Urbana, IL: Engineering Publications Office, University of Illinois, 1964).

7. Joseph T. Tykociner, Outline of Zetetics: A Study of Research and Artistic Activity (Urbana, IL: Engineering Publications Office, University of Illinois, 1966).

8. Joseph T. Tykociner, A Descriptive Inventory of the Arts and Sciences: Its Basis and Applications in Zetetics and Library Science (Urbana, IL: Engineering Publications Office, University of Illinois, 1967).

9. Joseph T. Tykociner, Zetetics and Its Relation to Education and Research (Urbana, IL: Engineering Publications Office, University of Illinois, 1968).

10. Tykociner, Research as a Science, p. 13.

11. Ibid., p. 15.

12. Tykociner, Outline of Zetetics, p. 61.

13. Ibid.

14. Tykociner, Research as a Science, pp. 43-61.

15. Ibid., p. 55.

16. Tykociner, Zetetics, p. 3.

17. Ibid., pp. 30-31.

18.

19. Ibid., p. 117.

20. Ibid., p. 143.

21. Ibid., pp. 173-201.

22. Ibid., pp. 194-197.

23. Tykociner, Descriptive Inventory, p. 37.

24. Tykociner, Zetetics and Its Relation, p. 16.

*Marta A. Davis, Assistant Humanities Librarian, Morris Library, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale; and Harry O. Davis, Map and Assistant Science Librarian, Morris Library, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.

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