NOTE: Changed canine nutrition and canine commercial ...
Thesaurus Design: Domestic Animals
LIBR 247
March 17, 2007
Jeanette Braun
Heather Fucinari
Freda Lin
1. Introduction
This thesaurus provides a controlled vocabulary for indexing articles about domestic animals. The current scope is somewhat limited by the small pool of articles from which the terms were drawn, but we have tried to allow for growth as much as possible. We hope that in the large scheme, once the thesaurus is expanded, our chosen vocabulary terms will facilitate consistency among documents from a searcher’s standpoint. With our smaller vocabulary list, many of the topics are a bit broader than they would be if we had a more comprehensive thesaurus.
Our user model includes pet owners, animal hobbyists, individuals involved in animal businesses and organizations, and other members of the general public who are interested in animals. This thesaurus is not intended to be used for scholarly or scientific purposes, so we have endeavored to choose more colloquial terms such as “dog” over more scientific terms such as “canine.”
This thesaurus is semantically linked, allowing for equivalent, hierarchical, and associative relationships. Generic, instance, and whole/part hierarchical relationships are all permissable, but polyhierarchies are not allowed. Scope notes are included to guide the user in the meaning and application of certain terms.
Authorized terms are in bold, entry terms are in italics, and node labels in are in brackets. The following abbreviations are used in this thesaurus:
SN stands for SCOPE NOTE, which defines a term and provides rules for applying it.
U stands for USE, leading from an entry term to an authorized term.
UF stands for USED FOR, leading from an authorized term to an entry term.
BT stands for BROADER TERM, indicating a term that is one level broader in the hierarchy.
NT stands for NARROWER TERM, indicating a term that is one level narrower in the hierarchy.
RT stands for RELATED TERM, indicating an associative relationship between two terms.
2. Alphabetical display
age groups
BT population groups
NT children
NT older adults
analysis
U evaluation methods
animal behavior
BT behavior
NT instinct
animal care
SN animal care covers feeding, grooming, housing, transporting, and generally providing for the health and well-being of the animal. For articles that focus on a specific aspect or aspects of animal care, use the appropriate narrower term.
UF animal husbandry
NT animal feeding
NT animal grooming
NT animal housing
NT animal transportation
RT supplies
animal care occupations
BT occupations
NT breeders
NT farriers
NT veterinarians
RT foaling
RT shoeing
RT sliding
animal equipment
BT equipment
animal feeding
BT animal care
animal food
BT food
NT dog foods
animal grooming
BT animal care
animal health
BT animal health and safety
RT animal injury
animal health and safety
BT health and safety
NT animal health
NT animal safety
animal housing
BT animal care
[kinds of animal housing]
NT aquariums
NT barns
[parts of animal housing]
NT lighting
RT ecosystems
animal-human bond
U human and animal relations
animal husbandry
U animal care
animal injury
BT injuries
RT animal health
animal observation
SN the activity of observing animal behavior both in captivity and in the wild
BT skills and activities
animal safety
UF kitten proofing
BT animal health and safety
animal training
BT skills and activities
animal transportation
BT animal care
Animal Transportation Association
BT non-profit organizations
animals
BT organisms
[by age]
NT newborns
[by function]
NT pets
[by habitat]
NT domestic
NT wild
NT invertebrates
NT vertebrates
antioxidants
BT food
Appaloosa Horse Club
BT member organizations
aquaria
U aquariums
aquariums
UF aquaria
BT animal housing
NT reef aquariums
Arizona Mountain Kingsnake
UF Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake, Lampropeltis Pyromelana
Arkansas State Horse Show Association
BT member organizations
RT horse show
associations
U organizations
barns
UF stables
behavior
BT life sciences
NT animal behavior
birds
BT vertebrates
NT parrots
bonding, human-animal
U human and animal relations
breeders
BT animal care occupations
RT foaling
business issues
NT profitability
RT businesses
businesses
BT commercial organizations
NT small businesses
RT business issues
camping
BT skills and activities
canine
U dogs
captive
U domestic
cat scratch fever
BT human diseases
cats
UF feline
BT mammals
NT kittens
children
SN aged birth through approximately 12 years
BT age groups
clams
BT mollusks
cockatoos
BT parrots
NT goffins
NT umbrellas
coelenterates
SN A group of primitive aquatic animals that includes jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones.
BT invertebrates
NT corals
Colorado
BT United States
commercial organizations
BT organizations
NT businesses
companionship
BT human and animal relations
competitions
BT events
NT horse shows
NT open shows
conferences
UF workshops
BT events
NT training seminars
cooking standards and guidelines
BT standards and guidelines
NT recipes
coral photobiology
BT photobiology
corals
BT coelenterates
crustaceans
BT invertebrates
NT crayfish
NT shrimp
crawdads
U crayfish
crawfish
U crayfish
crayfish
UF crawdads, crawfish
BT crustaceans
disabilities
SN physical, mental, or sensory impairments that render major life activities more difficult. Use a more specific term if possible.
NT diseases
NT injuries
diseases
BT disabilities
NT human diseases
dog foods
BT animal food
NT home cooked dog foods
dogs
UF canine
BT mammals
domestic
UF captive
BT animals
ecosystems
BT life sciences
NT freshwater
RT animal housing
environmental controls
SN elements of a controlled environment such as temperature and light levels. Use a more specific term if possible.
NT light levels
equestrianism
U horseback riding
equine
U horses
equipment
BT supplies
NT animal equipment
NT safety equipment
equitation
U horseback riding
evaluation methods
SN Objective or subjective procedures used to obtain and organize information for appraisal in relation to stated objectives, standards, or criteria
UF analysis
BT methods
events
NT competitions
NT conferences
excursions
BT skills and activities
family
BT population groups
farriers
SN people who shoe horses
BT animal care occupations
RT shoeing
feline
U cats
fire safety
BT safety
fish
BT vertebrates
NT reef fish
foaling
BT skills and activities
RT breeders
food
BT supplies
[kinds of food]
NT animal food
[parts of food]
NT ingredients
NT antioxidants
RT nutrition
RT recipes
goffins
BT cockatoos
governmental organizations
BT organizations
NT IRS
groups
NT population groups
guidelines
U standards and guidelines
health and safety
SN Physical and mental well-being
NT animal health and safety
NT human health and safety
NT safety
RT disabilities
health sciences
BT sciences
NT nutrition
home cooked dog foods
BT dog foods
horse shows
BT competitions
horseback riding
SN The activity of riding horses
UF equestrianism, equitation
BT skills and activities
RT horsemanship
RT horses
horsemanship
SN Ability to ride and handle a horse well
BT skills and activities
RT horseback riding
RT horses
horses
UF equine
BT mammals
RT horseback riding
RT horsemanship
human and animal learning
SN Emphasis on cognition and behavior, on teaching and learning processes
BT psychology and behavior
NT human learning
human and animal relations
UF animal human bond, animal-human bond, animal human relations, animal-human relations, animal human relationships, animal-human relationships, bonding, human-animal, human animal bond, human-animal bond, human-animal interactions, human animal relations, human-animal relations, human animal relationships, human-animal relationships
BT psychology and behavior
NT companionship
human-animal bond
U human and animal relations
human diseases
BT diseases
NT cat scratch fever
RT human health
human health
BT human health and safety
RT human diseases
human health and safety
BT health and safety
NT human health
human learning
BT human and animal learning
NT instruction
NT skills development
iguanas
BT lizards
ingredients
BT food
injuries
BT disabilities
NT animal injury
RT safety
instinct
BT animal behavior
NT pack leadership
NT plucking
NT scratching
NT territoriality
instruction
BT training
RT teaching methods
Internal Revenue Service
U IRS
invertebrates
BT animals
NT coelenterates
NT crustaceans
NT mollusks
IRS
UF Internal Revenue Service
BT governmental organizations
NT taxation
kitten proofing
U animal safety
kittens
BT cats
Lampropeltis Pyromelana
U Arizona Mountain Kingsnake
life sciences
BT sciences
NT behavior
NT ecosystems
NT photobiology
NT reproduction
light levels
BT environmental controls
RT photometry
lighting
BT animal housing
NT ultraviolet light
lizards
BT reptiles
NT iguanas
mammals
BT vertebrates
NT cats
NT dogs
NT horses
mating
UF sexual selection
BT reproduction
RT instinct
measurement techniques
BT methods
member organizations
BT organizations
NT Appaloosa Horse Club
NT Arkansas State Horse Show Association
methods
SN Systematic approaches to the conduct of an operation or process -- includes steps of procedure, application of techniques, systems of reasoning or analysis, and the modes of inquiry employed by a science or discipline. Use a more specific term if possible.
NT evaluation methods
NT measurement techniques
NT teaching methods
mollusks
BT invertebrates
NT clams
newborns
BT animals
non-profit organizations
BT organizations
NT Animal Transportation Association
NT Pets Are Wonderful
nursing homes
BT places
nutrition
BT health sciences
RT food
RT nutrition standards and guidelines
nutritional requirements
U nutritional standards
nutritional standards
BT nutrition standards and guidelines
nutrition standards and guidelines
UF nutritional requirements
BT standards and guidelines
NT nutritional standards
RT nutrition
occupations
SN General categories of job or work specializations, as characterized by duties, skill levels, status, pay, responsibility levels, or other distinguishing factors. Use a more specific term if possible.
UF vocations
NT animal care occupations
RT skills and activities
older adults
SN Approximately 65+ years of age
UF senior citizens
BT age groups
open shows
BT competitions
organisms
NT animals
organizations
UF associations
NT governmental organizations
NT member organizations
NT non-profit organizations
pack
U pack leadership
pack leadership
UF pack
BT instinct
parrots
BT birds
NT cockatoos
pets
BT animals
RT domestic
Pets Are Wonderful
BT non-profit organizations
photobiology
SN scientific study of the interactions of light and living organisms
BT life science
NT coral photobiology
RT photometry
photometry
SN the science of measurement of visible light in terms of its perceived brightness to human vision.
BT physics
RT light levels
RT photobiology
physical sciences
BT sciences
NT physics
physics
BT physical sciences
NT photometry
places
[geographical locations]
NT United States
[named geographical regions]
NT Rocky Mountain region
[facilities]
NT nursing homes
plucking
BT instinct
population groups
SN People identified as individuals and/or members of a group. Use a more specific term if possible.
BT groups
NT age groups
NT family
profit motive
U profitability
profitability
UF profit motive
BT business issues
psychology and behavior
NT human and animal learning
NT human and animal relations
recipes
BT cooking standards and guidelines
RT food
reef aquariums
BT aquariums
reef fish
BT fish
reptiles
BT vertebrates
NT lizards
NT snakes
reproduction
BT life sciences
NT mating
requirements
U standards and guidelines
Rocky Mountain region
UF Rocky Mountains
BT places
Rocky Mountains
U Rocky Mountain region
safety
BT health and safety
NT fire safety
RT injuries
safety attire
U safety equipment
safety equipment
UF safety attire
BT equipment
sciences
NT health sciences
NT life sciences
NT physical sciences
senior citizens
U older adults
sexual selection
U mating
shoeing
BT skills and activities
RT farriers
shrimp
BT crustaceans
skills and activities
NT animal observation
NT animal training
NT camping
NT excursions
NT foaling
NT horseback riding
NT horsemanship
NT shoeing
NT sliding
skills development
BT human learning
sliding
BT skills and activities
RT animal care occupations
small businesses
BT businesses
snakes
NT Arizona Mountain Kingsnake
Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake
U Arizona Mountain Kingsnake
stables
U barns
standards
U standards and guidelines
standards and guidelines
UF guidelines, requirements, standards
NT cooking standards and guidelines
NT nutrition standards and guidelines
supplies
SN all equipment and food used to care for, play with, protect, ride and train animals. Use a more specific term if possible.
NT equipment
NT food
RT animal care
tax auditing
BT taxation
taxation
BT IRS
NT tax auditing
teaching methods
BT methods
RT instruction
training
BT human and animal learning
NT instruction
training seminars
BT conferences
ultraviolet light
BT lighting
umbrellas
BT cockatoos
United States
BT places
NT Colorado
vertebrates
BT animals
NT birds
NT fish
NT mammals
NT reptiles
veterinarians
BT animal care occupations
vocations
U occupations
wild
BT animals
workshops
U conferences
3. Top term hierarchical display
animal care
animal feeding
animal grooming
animal housing
[kinds of animal housing]
aquariums
reef aquariums
barns
[parts of animal housing]
lighting
ultraviolet light
animal transportation
business issues
profitability
environmental controls
light levels
events
competitions
horse shows
open shows
conferences
training seminars
disabilities
diseases
human diseases
cat scratch fever
injuries
animal injury
groups
population groups
age groups
children
older adults
family
health and safety
animal health and safety
animal health
animal safety
human health and safety
human health
safety
fire safety
methods
evaluation methods
measurement techniques
teaching methods
occupations
animal care occupations
breeders
farriers
veterinarians
organisms
animals
[by age]
newborns
[by function]
pets
[by habitat]
domestic
wild
invertebrates
coelenterates
corals
crustaceans
crayfish
shrimp
mollusks
clams
vertebrates
birds
parrots
cockatoos
goffins
umbrellas
fish
reef fish
mammals
cats
kittens
dogs
horses
reptiles
lizards
iguanas
snakes
Arizona Mountain Kingsnake
organizations
governmental organizations
IRS
[organizational functions]
taxation
tax auditing
commercial organizations
businesses
small businesses
non-profit organizations
Animal Transportation Association
Pets Are Wonderful
member organizations
Appaloosa Horse Club
Arkansas State Horse Show Association
places
[geographical locations]
United States
Colorado
[named geographical regions]
Rocky Mountain region
[facilities]
nursing homes
psychology and behavior
human and animal learning
human learning
skills development
human animal relations
companionship
training
instruction
sciences
health sciences
nutrition
life sciences
behavior
animal behavior
instinct
pack leadership
plucking
scratching
territoriality
ecosystems
freshwater
photobiology
coral photobiology
reproduction
mating
physical sciences
physics
photometry
skills and activities
animal observation
animal training
camping
excursions
foaling
horseback riding
horsemanship
shoeing
sliding
standards and guidelines
cooking standards and guidelines
recipes
nutrition standards and guidelines
nutritional standards
supplies
equipment
animal equipment
safety equipment
food
[kinds of food]
animal food
dog foods
home cooked dog foods
[parts of food]
ingredients
antioxidants
4. Discussion section
4A. Describe the process of working with the pool of candidate terms. Once you had the pool assembled, what were the steps in getting to a final list and in creating the hierarchies? (I am not looking to see if you did this some “right” way – I’m really just curious about how you went about this. So don’t worry about there being a correct or an incorrect way of doing it.)
Our group divided the 22 articles into 3 stacks, and we each took a stack home to read. We had not discussed how we would approach this project and so we each proceeded independently.
Jeanie started by reading the 7 articles in her stack and jotting down possible terms. She then narrowed her candidates down to 2-5 terms per article, converted them into authorized forms, and posted the terms in tentative hierarchical displays to the group area.
Heather reports that she began reading her articles with the CJPI assignment in mind. As she read an article, she wrote down terms that stood out as general topics. She then listed all the terms and thought about their potential broader and narrower term relationships to each other. She considered what might be entry words for each term and how the terms should reflect the audience of our thesaurus. User warrant affected her decision, for example, to use "dogs" instead of the more textbook "canine."
Freda began by reading her articles broadly, jotting down all words and concepts that seemed significant. This resulted in 8 lists of 8-35 terms per article. While she did select and bold 4-6 key terms for each article and alphabetized her lists of terms, she did not shorten her overall lists nor impose a hierarchical order among the terms prior to submitting them to the group term pool.
Once these initial, individual lists were posted, Freda compiled and reposted them in a color-coded, alphabetically arranged table that reflected which terms, from whose article, were common or related to other terms. At this point we were able to conceptualize the spectrum of our potential audience. Jeanie then removed the duplicate terms from this alphabetized group term pool and re-divided the remaining terms into 11 very rough groupings by top term.
Each group member took on 3-4 of these top term lists and proceeded to divide them up into hierarchies. The resulting tentative hierarchical and alphabetical displays were posted for group review, at which point we would discuss our individual postings and then go back to re-work, re-post, and further discuss our developments.
Many terms were thrown out during the process because they were redundant or unnecessary. For example, when Freda began to realize how her long, initial terms lists might be adversely affecting the organization of some hierarchies, she went through her articles again, reconfirmed an average of 6 key terms per article, and then requested that all other terms from her initial lists be removed from any hierarchical and alphabetical display.
As the Consultation date approached, Heather compiled a draft of all our hierarchies and alphabetical displays to submit for consultation. Once we received our consultation feedback, we worked on rearranging our existing hierarchies, created new hierarchies, and discussed how to remedy our RT/NT troubles.
It is interesting to note how different our three approaches were at the beginning. Heather had thought in depth about individual terms and how a user would relate to them while Jeanie reports being so focused on thinking about our hierarchies and how terms would fit together, that she felt she probably did not spend enough time perfecting the individual terms themselves (particularly with regard to compound terms). Freda’s approach inflated the group’s candidate term pool which misguided the direction of certain hierarchies but also conceptually projected the potential extent of the thesaurus parameters.
The varied approaches reflect some of the myriad factors (e.g., user needs, authorized and entry terms, hierarchical relationships, appearance of term displays, thesaurus expansion, etc.) that thesaurus designers must simultaneously consider at any given point of the design process.
4B. What terms did you find particularly problematic? How did you first consider handling them, and how did you wind up handling them? What things did you think about as you worked toward a decision?
We encountered three general kinds of problematic terms. Abstract concepts were very difficult to place into hierarchies because it was hard to determine what exactly they were. Ambiguous and vague terms also proved challenging to categorize, as did unfamiliar but domain-specific terms.
To enhance our understanding of the meanings of these problematic terms, we began by asking the person who first assigned the term to provide more context from the article, and then to elaborate on the term’s meaning.
Even with a better understanding of how terms were used in a particular article, it was still hard to figure out their relationship to other terms and find a place for them among existing hierarchies. On these occasions, we first tried to apply the “x is a kind/type of y” test. We employed this test even more vigorously after our Consultation, when it became apparent that we were having trouble with NT and RT relationships. The next step was to shift problematic terms from hierarchy to hierarchy, often creating new hierarchies in the process. Determined not to have any orphans, we sometimes reluctantly resolved the situation by leaving terms in small hierarchies comprised of only one BT and one NT.
Through the Consultation, we gained clarity on our faulty NT and RT relationships and this “flipped a switch” for us, enabling us to see proper, if not new, relationships between terms. We also took a step back, reviewed our tactics, and expanded our information tools.
Initially, and primarily, we referred to the online National Agricultural Library (NAL) Thesaurus () and other pet or animal-related glossaries and dictionaries for guidance and ideas. Following the consultation, we referred to the ERIC via CSA thesaurus (accessed through our SJSU databases) more frequently. We also sought relational and definition clues online by searching Google with parameters like “photometry is a branch of*” and “open shows are*”. These tactics broadened our ideas of how terms could be handled and inspired us to create several new hierarchies, even if they would only hold 2 terms.
A sampling of our problematic terms is shown here:
| |Abstract terms |Ambiguous, vague, |Similar terms |Business terms |
| | |unfamiliar terms | | |
| | | | | |
|Terms |- profitability |- habitat |- conferences, seminars,|- business |
| |- light levels |- organized |and workshops |- business issues |
| |- nutritional analysis |- devices | |- small businesses |
| | |- fire safety |- horsemanship, |- business operations |
| | |- foaling |equestrianism, |- occupations |
| | |- shoeing |equitation, and |- customer service |
| | |- light measurement |horseback riding. |- marketing |
| | |techniques | |- product delivery |
| | | | |
|What we did |These terms resisted easy categorization. Some even |The terms in the above |Our business-related terms |
| |defied the “x is a kind/type of y” test (e.g., |groupings shared shades |were very difficult to |
| |profitability, light levels, foaling, and shoeing). Each|of meaning with each |place, since they seemed |
| |could have been placed in at least 2 different |other. |vague and hard to |
| |hierarchies. | |categorize. |
| | |Through various steps | |
| |We shifted them around between hierarchies and played |discussed earlier, we |After Freda conducted her |
| |with the concepts behind the terms to see if we could |decided upon a “best” |“term cleansing” (see |
| |better represent them with alternate terms. |term and made the others|response to Discussion |
| | |entry or related terms. |Question 1), it became |
| |Eventually, after we explored with various additional | |clear that certain ones |
| |information tools and our ideas grew, each term was | |were no longer needed and |
| |placed in a single, sometimes new, hierarchy or we | |we were able to get rid of |
| |decided that a concept’s meaning would be best captured | |them. |
| |by the combination of other, more readily understood, | | |
| |terms. For example: | |Ultimately, a couple of the|
| | | |remaining business terms |
| |Nutritional analysis = | |were moved to the |
| | | |"organizations" hierarchy, |
| |nutrition | |while "occupations" and |
| |+ | |"business issues" became |
| |evaluation methods | |top terms in their own |
| | | |small hierarchies. |
| | | | |
| |Light measurement techniques = | | |
| | | | |
| |light levels | | |
| |+ | | |
| |measurement techniques | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
While we are elated and relieved that each term or concept now has a single hierarchy to call home or can be generated through term combinations, we are still a bit dissatisfied and uncertain that just the right words have been chosen to capture the true meaning of concepts. For instance, our current solution for "light levels" (categorized as a kind of "environmental control") leaves something to be desired. This is a problem that would need to be addressed with the growth of the articles database and indexable terms.
4C. Did you make any major revisions or changes along the way? (Like re-doing an entire hierarchy, or merging two hierarchies, etc.) Please discuss any major change(s) and why you made it (or them).
A number of hierarchies were revised a great deal. This was mainly because we had mistakenly categorized related terms as narrower terms. Throughout our revisions, we strove for inter, as well as intra indexer consistency in our vocabulary list (Lancaster, p. 68). We consulted each other on our own vocabulary words to see if each of us agreed that was the best word to represent the idea. The same was done for agreeing to exclude words.
An abbreviated sampling of our revisions is shown below:
| Comment |Before |After |
|All of the terms |business | |
|from our initial |business issues |business issues |
|"business" |profitability |profitability |
|hierarchy have now |occupations | |
|been divided among |foaling |occupations |
|4 more fitting |shoeing |animal care occupations |
|hierarchies. |small businesses |breeders |
| | |farriers |
| | |veterinarians |
| | | |
| | |organizations |
| | |commercial organizations |
| | |businesses |
| | |small businesses |
| | | |
| | |skills and activities |
| | |foaling |
| | |shoeing |
| | | |
|Six NTs from the |animal care | |
|"animal care" |animal equipment |health and safety |
|hierarchy and have |safety equipment |animal health and safety |
|been moved: four to|animal feeding |animal health |
|the "health and |food |animal safety |
|safety" and |dog foods |human health and safety |
|“disabilities” |home cooked dog foods |human health |
|hierarchies and 2 |animal health |safety |
|formed the basis of|animal injury |fire safety |
|a new hierarchy |animal safety | |
|called "supplies." |fire safety | |
| | |disabilities |
| | |diseases |
| | |human diseases |
| | |cat scratch fever |
| | |injuries |
| | |animal injury |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |supplies |
| | |equipment |
| | |animal equipment |
| | |safety equipment |
| | |food |
| | |[kinds of food] |
| | |animal food |
| | |dog foods |
| | |home cooked dog foods |
| | |[parts of food] |
| | |ingredients |
| | |antioxidants |
| | | |
| | | |
|Some single |life sciences |sciences |
|hierarchies, like |behavior |health sciences |
|“life sciences,” |animal behavior |nutrition |
|have evolved into |instinct |life sciences |
|something much |pack leadership |behavior |
|broader. |plucking |animal behavior |
| |scratching |instinct |
| |territoriality |pack leadership |
| |fish behavior |plucking |
| |ecosystems |scratching |
| |freshwater |territoriality |
| |photobiology |ecosystems |
| |coral photobiology |freshwater |
| |reproduction |photobiology |
| |mating |coral photobiology |
| | |reproduction |
| | |mating |
| | |physical sciences |
| | |physics |
| | |photometry |
| | | |
| |standards | |
| |standards guidelines |standards and guidelines |
|The “standards” |American Standard for Testing Materials |cooking standards and guidelines |
|hierarchy had been | |recipes |
|affected by | |nutrition standards and guidelines |
|misleading terms | |nutritional standards |
|(which were later | | |
|found unnecessary | | |
|and removed). | | |
| | | |
| | | |
Our thesaurus is only a small prototype and is expected to grow over time and with use. These types of revisions really seemed to open up the individual hierarchies, making them feel more conducive to expansion.
Although we understood from the beginning of this assignment that we needed to be aware of our thesaurus’ eventual expansion, it was only by working through these revisions that we saw ways that expansion might be impeded or facilitated.
4D. Were there places where you had to make compromises or where there was some kind of trade-off between decisions? If you haven’t discussed this already as a part of questions 4A-4C, please describe these compromises or trade-offs here. (This is a normal part of vocabulary work; making one thing more right often results in something else being less right than you would like. So again, don’t worry that you did it wrong.)
One type of compromise we had to make was giving up certain terms (such as "barn fires" or “light measurement techniques) when it became clear that other terms in combination (e.g., "barns" + "fire prevention" or “light levels” + “measurement techniques”) could better describe a concept. We've also negotiated over where to place certain terms—debating, for example, whether "foaling" and "shoeing" are "occupations" or "skills and activities". In that particular case, we decided to treat “foaling” and “shoeing” as the latter, which would allow the terms to be applied in a general skill or activity sense, as well as combined with the term “occupations” (or any combination of “occupations” NTs) for a professional slant to the skill or activity. If we had decided the other way around—and, instead, designated “foaling” and “shoeing” as kinds of “occupations”—this would have precluded their application toward articles discussing “foaling” or “shoeing” in non-professional, non-occupational terms.
The need for negotiation, compromise and tradeoffs stems from the fact that we each indexed only one third of the articles and then created hierarchies based on someone else’s assigned terms. The process of assessing, placing, and discussing a term is understandably difficult when only one person knows for sure what the term means in context and whether another term would capture the same concept. Our approach in this assignment has been to ask each group member to define problematic terms and provide context from their article. We did this on an “as needed” basis and the approach seems to have worked fairly well for us: no group member has reported encountering a situation in which she needed to struggle at length to keep a term or to prevent one from being used.
While this approach worked for us in creating a small-scale thesaurus prototype, it probably would not work for a large-scale and expanding one. As we observed through our earlier Vocabulary Discovery assignment, entry recommendations and contributions might originate from a number of people, across a number of fields, even from a number of different countries. In these cases, it seems that explanatory checks might actually be more useful (albeit, time-consuming to prepare) if made or provided in advance—perhaps at the point of candidate term submission.
4E. What did you find enjoyable about designing the vocabulary?
We enjoyed a number of aspects during the vocabulary design process. Here they are, in our own words:
“It's very enjoyable -- like a Rubik's cube that has been solved -- when all the terms just naturally fall into a logical order, and the hierarchy actually enhances my understanding of the terms it contains." – Jeanie Braun
“I really enjoy when the hierarchal structure just "clicks," when everything makes sense from BT to NT. Also, when we arrive at a group decision on how to work with a problem and come up with the best solution. I rather enjoy the alphabetizing of my words and thinking of possibly RT and UF terms.” – Heather Fucinari
“Working with interested and reliable group members has certainly contributed to the positive experience of this project. Also, the ongoing learning and discovery activity—fueled by negotiating new or puzzling terms, comparing term organizations among various thesauri, and the “aha!” moments when something suddenly makes sense—is just awesome. I love that—gaining knowledge as I’m working.” – Freda Lin
4F. What did you find least enjoyable about designing the vocabulary?
“It's absolutely infuriating -- again, like a Rubik's cube -- when terms resist categorization and the more I move them around, the less I understand what they actually mean. If the thesaurus were actually a Rubik's cube, this is the point at which it would be thrown across the room.” – Jeanie Braun
“I would have to say coming up with the "top terms." Though, Jeanie did that pretty well! It is difficult to find the most appropriate top term in the large scheme of the projects. These were probably the things we reworked the most.” – Heather Fucinari
“Hear, hear to Jeanie’s and Heather’s comments! Two more things come to mind: (1) I did not like how disorganized my computer files became as I accumulated drafts and draft revisions. I didn’t really think it was a problem (for myself) until we were well-into the assignment. It seems a good idea to establish protocols for naming/submitting files and revisions at the start of the design process. (2) The amount of paper it requires when I want to review drafts and revisions in print is awful (but I do reuse my paper!). I've taken to printing 2 tiny-print pages per sheet. My eyes, my eyes...” – Freda Lin
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