ORGANIZATION OF ELEMENTS OF INFORMATION The Thesaurus
Thesaurus From Greek, meaning “treasure” A compilation of words and phrases showing synonymous, hierarchical, and other relationships and dependences, the function of which is to provide a standard vocabulary for information storage and retrieval--ANSI
Relation to Classification Scheme Alphabetical and hierarchical Number of locations for a term Facets
Purpose Promote consistent representation of subject matter Link terms related either permanently or transitorily
History Peter Mark Roget Society for the Diffusion of Knowledge Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases Classified and Arranged so as to Facilitate the Expression of Ideas and Assist in Literary Composition (1852)
History Information retrieval thesaurus, 1960s-
Structure
Hierarchical Relationships Broader Term (BT): Science Narrower Term (NT): Physics
Hierarchical relationships Genus-speciesPartitive
Hierarchical relationships Examples
Affinitive/Associative Relationship “RT”
Descriptors Nouns, phrases Gravity Specific gravity Center of gravity
Descriptors Split Multiple classes Children’s books Retain compound Take more than one way Plate glass/glass plate
Scope note “SN” Define or clarify the term
Preferential relationship Equivalent of “see” reference in index “Use” and “Use for” Use: stamp collecting Use for: Philately
Preferential relationship Example
Display Alphabetical
Display Hierarchical
Construction Consolidation Original indexing Maintenance s/z39-19a.pdf
Evaluation Breadth of coverage Handling of structural relationship Effectiveness of display
Thesaurus - ERIC
Thesaurus Examples online: NASA: UNESCO:
Solution