Page 221 - DLIS402_INFORMATION_ANALYSIS_AND_REPACKAGING

Information Analysis and Repackaging

Notes The alphabetical thesaurus display is a flat format thesaurus, and therefore does not show more
than one level of hierarchy. The hierarchical thesaurus display shows multiple levels of hierarchy
by using BT1, BT2, BT3, etc. and NT1, NT2, NT3.
Associative: The Apple Thesaurus uses associative relationships to show when the meanings of
two terms have some overlap. These relationships are designated with an RT (Related Term). All
RT terms in the Apple Thesaurus are antonyms (i.e. they are opposites of each other). Terms are
given RT relationships when we felt that a user would benefit from knowing the opposite term. For
example, a related term for “light aroma” is “strong aroma.” The following example illustrates how
associative relationships are displayed in the thesaurus.
sour taste
BT:
<taste>
RT:
sweet taste
sweet taste
BT:
<taste>
NT:
cloying taste
honeyed taste

sugary taste
syrupy taste
RT:
sour taste
Precision and Recall
Recall measures the number of relevant items retrieved from a database compared to the total number
of items in the database. Precision measures the number of relevant items in a retrieved set. Once
our thesaurus becomes searchable, it will allow for high precision through the use of Boolean
searching and truncation. Higher precision will also be achieved through the utilization of scope
notes attached to terms that might have an ambiguous meaning.

Specificity
The goal of our thesaurus is to be as specific as necessary, given that apples tend to be similar in
taste, colour, and smell. It is always difficult to describe tastes and smells, but the task is easier if the
indexers are given enough terms to distinguish between subtle differences.

Exhaustivity
Every possible relevant term is included that fit in with the stated goals of our thesaurus. Terms are
omitted that did not fit our specified categories. However, our thesaurus cannot be said to be
exhaustive. Not only are there many words to describe apple characteristics, but the future expansion
of this thesaurus will see the addition of terms to describe new apple varieties.

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