The definition of the "index" here

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I am not sure whether the "index" here refers to "an indication, sign, or token"

Context:

Historically, the Gallup Poll has measured and tracked the public's attitudes concerning virtually every political, social, and economic issue of the day, including highly sensitive or controversial subjects. In 2005, Gallup began its World Poll, which continually surveys citizens in more than 140 countries, representing 95% of the world's adult population. General and regional-specific questions, developed in collaboration with the world's leading behavioral economists, are organized into powerful indexes and topic areas that correlate with real-world outcomes.

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Type: Question • Score: 5 • Views: 3,139 • Replies: 14

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View best answer, chosen by oristarA

"Index" is a financial term. Your clue would be the words "economists" in the clause preceding the rest of the sentence.

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@oristarA,

I read "index" here to be a value computed to represent a variety of data and to represent something in a single value. This of a stock exchange index that is supposed to be a measure of the stock market in a single value.

It would be item two in this definition;
1. Something that serves to guide, point out, or otherwise facilitate reference, especially:
a. An alphabetized list of names, places, and subjects treated in a printed work, giving the page or pages on which each item is mentioned.
b. A thumb index.
c. A table, file, or catalog.
d. Computer Science A list of keywords associated with a record or document, used especially as an aid in searching for information.
2. Something that reveals or indicates; a sign: "Her face . . . was a fair index to her disposition" (Samuel Butler).
3. A character () used in printing to call attention to a particular paragraph or section. Also called fist, hand.
4. An indicator or pointer, as on a scientific instrument.
5.
a. Mathematics A number or symbol, often written as a subscript or superscript to a mathematical expression, that indicates an operation to be performed, an ordering relation, or a use of the associated expression.
b. A number derived from a formula, used to characterize a set of data.
6. A number that represents the change in price or value of an aggregate of goods, services, wages, or other measurable quantity in comparison with a reference number for a previous period of time.
7. Index Roman Catholic Church A list formerly published by Church authority, restricting or forbidding the reading of certain books.

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@oristarA,

Thank you both

1 Reply

@oristarA,

Punkey and engineer have given you two different suggestions.

I don't agree with either of them.

Can you explain what you learned from their two, different, responses?

2 Replies

@ehBeth,

ehBeth wrote:

Punkey and engineer have given you two different suggestions.

I don't agree with either of them.

Can you explain what you learned from their two, different, responses?

I shall offer a third, obtained (surprise!) by going to the Gallup website and reading what they say about their methodology, and seeing a list of the indexes. A radical step, I daresay. There are a lot more indexes (what happened to indices?) but to include them all would make this reply much too long. An index as used here is a score, or indicator of some measured or estimated level. In this case these levels are to do with quality of life.

https://worldview.gallup.com/content/methodology.aspx

Quote:

Indexes

The Gallup World Poll global indexes span multiple economic, political, and social topics that correlate with real-world outcomes.

Law and Order Index

The Law and Order Index measures security levels that respondents report for themselves and their families. It incorporates two questions that gauge respondents' sense of personal security and two questions that specifically address the incidence of crime.

Food and Shelter Index

The Food and Shelter Index measures whether a respondent has experienced deprivation in the areas of food or shelter. Two items that ask about respondents' ability to afford food or shelter in the past year compose this index.

Personal Economy Index

The Personal Economy Index measures respondents' personal economic situations and the economics of the community where they live.

Personal Health

The Personal Health Index measures perceptions of one's own health and incidence of pain, sadness, and worry.

2 Replies

@contrex,

shhhhhh

I was trying to get oristarA to do the homework.

(I'm in agreement re missing indices)

1 Reply

@ehBeth,

ehBeth wrote:

Punkey and engineer have given you two different suggestions.

I don't agree with either of them.

Can you explain what you learned from their two, different, responses?

PUNKEY's opinion grabbed the word "economists," which offers him
the clue that the "index" there should be based upon economy. So he
concluded it is a financial term, which is not convincing in my eyes, however.

PUNKEY wrote:

"Index" is a financial term. Your clue would be the words "economists" in
the clause preceding the rest of the sentence.

And Engineer's view held water to me:

engineer wrote:

I read "index" here to be a value computed to represent a variety of data and to represent something in a single value. This of a stock exchange index that is supposed to be a measure of the stock market in a single value.

Let's see what value in particular in that context:

[quote}2. Something that reveals or indicates; a sign: "Her face . . . was a fair index to her disposition" (Samuel Butler). [/quote]

The indication will not be limited to economy, but will guide in other many fields.

But his explanation is less concrete.
Let's us now hear yours, ehBeth.

0 Replies

@ehBeth,

ehBeth wrote:

shhhhhh
I was trying to get oristarA to do the homework.
(I'm in agreement re missing indices)

I've not yet read Contrex's comment, rest assured.
Now I begin to read.

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@oristarA,

We use our index finger to point at things.

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Now I've read through and reselected Contrex's as Selected Answer. Sorry Engineer, but that quote from Gallup is really cool.

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@contrex,

Quote:

There are a lot more indexes (what happened to indices?)

Beth added: (I'm in agreement re missing indices)

This is pedantry, pure and simple.

While 'indices' is certainly a possibility, it does not follow the rules of English. Words that are "borrowed" from a language do not bring the rules/pronunciation with them.

1 Reply

@JTT,

JTT wrote:

it does not follow the rules of English.

aren't you the happy little rule lover

Laughing

2 Replies

@ehBeth,

Just what I expected from both or either of you, Beth, though, I must admit, I did hold out some vague hope of honesty from you.

Show us how it follows the rules of English.

0 Replies

@ehBeth,

I guess that the smarts doesn't come with the pedantry, eh, Beth?

0 Replies

The definition of the "index" here

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