A fundamental problem in the two broad approaches to indexing in the social sciences--providing structure using preferred terms, cross references, and groupings of sets of materials, or compiling a concordance of an author's terms based on occurrence, leaving users free to impose their own structure--is that different indexers and users focus on different aspects of documents as significant. The multi-modal system of indexing describes materials systematically from different viewpoints, handling separately the aspects of documents that come into focus when viewed from each standpoint. Documents are organized according to relatively mutually exclusive categories, described and placed in the dimensions of: (1) theoretical orientation; (2) research method; (3) empirical situation--descriptive or prescriptive; (4) data collection, and (5) form--e.g., bibliography, reader. The system enables users to analyse the search problem by successively partitioning the materials according to dimension and subject headings within the dimension. A feasible application would provide subject specialists with a single tool, more appropriate to their needs, for accessing materials covered by small scale area-specific services. The development of the process is outlined, and an example of indexing provided. (Author/KP)