STEPS IN DESIGNING A

CLASSIFICATION SCHEME FOR

MICRO SUBJECTS

PRESENTED BY

LIJA K JOHNNO: 15

MLISC SEM 1

INTRODUCTION Classification is a logical separation Integration with whole of knowledge Scheme is influenced by the designer He is influenced by the intellectual

and social environment As Knowledge is dynamic, mapping of

knowledge is neither stable nor universally acceptable.

ANALYTICO SYNTHETIC CLASSIFICATION

Indian Approach Designed and developed by Dr. S

R Ranganathan Provides models , tools and

techniques analysis of subjects into elemental structure

Synthesize ideas into a group appropriate to user needs

COLON CLASSIFICATION Postulates are assumptions never

put to test PMEST Thoroughly faceted theory based

scheme Particular about the order of Main

class and the facets in Class Number

Postulates and principles for ordering classes in arrays and chains and facets in facet formula

DIVISION OF KNOWLEDGE IN CC

Basic Subjects : Unitary Subjects eg : Law, Physics

Compound Subjects : BS with subdivisions or additional facets (infinite in nature) eg: Velocity of Light, Guitar Music

Complex subjects : Interdisciplinary Subjects eg: Psychology for Librarians

CONTINUATION… Every document has a BS which forms

the first facet Universe of Knowledge according to

modes of formation of subject according to7th edition Main Basic Subject

Traditional {Law, Physics} Newly Emerging {Journalism, Library Science} Fused {Biochemistry} Distilled {Research Methodology} Clustering {Chandrayaan} Agglomerates {Social Sciences}

CONTINUATION…

Non Main Basic Subject Canonical Classes {Algebra, Geometry} System Constituents {Marxian Economy} Environment Constituents {Space medicine} Special Constituents {Co-operative

Economy}

Sciences A – M Mysticism and Spiritual experience Δ Humanities N – S Social Sciences T - Z

DEPTH CLASSIFICATION

Development began in 1953 For co extensiveness and

expressiveness Micro thoughts with many levels and

rounds of facets Micro subjects have small extension

and high intension Special Classification scheme

METHODOLOGY ADOPTED IN CONSTRUCTING THE DEPTH CLASSIFICATION SCHEDULE Selection of a Model Scheme

A scheme should be studied for a specific model

A theory based scheme is a better model

Freely faceted model is more versatile and helpful

STEPS IN DESIGNING THE DEPTH SCHEDULE

Preliminary works Collection of Terms Sorting of terms Allocation of Notation Preparation of Indexes Finalizing the Schedule

PRELIMINARY WORKS

Understanding of the Subject The structure and development of the

subject To select candidate terms and determining

the relationships between them Denotation of the terms in the subject Scope recognized by different authorities Its division and subdivisions

CONTINUATION…

Sources used for studying the subjects Standard and general dictionaries & technical

glossaries (definition of the subject) Encyclopedia – general & specific (comprehensive

information, scope of the field) Representative textbooks (Reliable and educative

information) Classification Scheme – general & special

(Structured representation) Periodicals ,Review articles & journals (information

on research of the subject) Conference proceedings (nascent thoughts) Directory of institutions ( changing specialists in

research & development of the subject)

CONTINUATION…

Identification of the user needs Understanding user approach

Schedule should satisfy the user’s browsing and retrieval needs

User characteristics should be identified Designer should specify

The user types Direct /Indirect user ,Discipline / mission oriented user Problem solvers /Decision makers, Learners

The type of use or problems The helpfulness or limitations of devices or aids adopted The interrelationship of classification schedule with other

information storage & retrieval devices in the system The ways of manipulating the structure of the class number

Knowledge of user behavior will enrich the schedule in performing the functions

CONTINUATION…

Librarians Professional Approach Ease of classifying Capable to update new subjects Notation should be brief, simple, familiar and

expressive Minimum revision of notation of already

assigned class numbers Update schedule periodically Well defined procedure for classifying the

subject Balanced indexes to the schedule

CONTINUATION…

Resources Needed Finance

Depends on the type and size of the organization Manpower

Information scientists / Librarians with subject knowledge

Subject specialists with knowledge of library and information

Semi-professional workers Typists , clerical staffs Programmers & system analyst for use of computers

for indexing

Number of staff depends on the size of the schedule and time allowed to develop it.

COLLECTION OF TERMS

Analysis of data Selection of Candidate Terms

Relevancy of a concept or term Terms selected from the sources discussed

above will be standardized one Indicates the literary warrant for the term Select from dictionaries, glossaries, indexes,

classification schemes, thesaurus Facet analysis of articles in encyclopedia,

handbooks, periodical publications & textbooks

CONTINUATION…

Criteria for choosing the term Relevancy of the term in the subject Formally accepted usage Terms in current usage Frequently used terms Anticipated terms in retrieval queries Terms emerging in literatureCombination of documentary sources, subject

specialists and librarians gives comprehensive collection

CONTINUATION…

Analysis into facets and other components Correlate terms to other terms in subject Postulate of fundamental category is

applied Subject strings

Subject literature facet analyzed to subject strings

Appropriate fundamental categories & indicators are assigned

Separate serially numbered records for each analyzed article

CONTINUATION…

Identifying the relationships Facet analysis is based on PMEST Nonhierarchical relations between terms are

identified Indicated by RT(related term) Cross reference like ‘see also‘ RT links are between

Speciator to speciator in facet Speciator to main isolate in facet Main isolates in different facets

Term’s Role in context of a subject is specified for sorting

CONTINUATION…

Hierarchical relationship Relationship of super and subordination

concepts Cross-reference of BT(Broader term) and

NT (Narrower Term) Generic relation: Super-ordinated(generic) term

denotes class of concepts of which subordinated (specific) term is a member. Differ by at least 1 characteristic

Part-whole relation: Super-ordinated(whole) term denotes an object or concept of which the subordinated(part) term is part

CONTINUATION…

Preferred term and standardization Inclusion of a term should satisfy certain

criteria Most understood by user Current terms rather than superseded terms

One term is used & other kept as lead in terms(indicated by U & UF- use for)

Should avoid confusion at role determining & sorting stage

Scope notes are given Meaning not clear Meaning different for different people (eg Charge) Exercise control over usage of a term

CONTINUATION…

Singular terms are preferred for isolate ideasType of form Use singular form Use plural form

1 Material terms When term is specific When term is generic

2 Terms representing Properties, Conditions,

Characteristics

When term is specific When term is generic

3 Class of term Don’t use singular Use plural eg: Solids, Liquids

4 Process term Use singular Don’t use plural

5 Proper noun Use Singular Don’t use plural

6 Disciplines, fields and

subject areas

Use singular Don’t use plural

7 Events or occurrences

Don’t use singular Use plural

RECORDING OF TERM PROFILENo

Term profile

1 Serial Number Serially numbered using Indo Arabic numerals

2 Reference Accession number of the source

3 Term Term in the form found in literature

4 Note Term with role is entered

5 Context Context in which the term is used

6 Definition Selected from the source

7 Source of definition

Source of definition is recorded

8 Role Appropriate PMEST manifestation is recorded

9 Broader term Various BTs are entered with the source

10 Narrower term Various NTs are entered with the source

11 Related term RTs from thesaurus and subject strings are entered

12 Synonym Synonyms, quasi synonyms, antonyms are entered

13 Standard/ preferred term

Preferred term as per the criteria is entered here

14 Recorded by Name of the classifier is entered

15 Checked by Classifier / subject expert who cross-check the entry is recorded

SORTING OF TERMS Term profiles are scrutinized Relevancy of the terms for host subject is

examined Classificationist by experience have

judgment of relevancy Subject experts are approached when

needed Grouped into

Relevant(R) Relevant (doubtful)(RD) Non Relevant(NR)

CONTINUATION…

Grouping by facets Relevant terms are sorted into following 7

groups according to the 4 and 7 columns of the term profile

Basic Subject facet Personality Matter Material Matter Property Energy Space Time

CONTINUATION…

Formation of arrays and chains Step 1: Choose appropriate characteristics for

grouping , using Canons of Characteristics Step 2: Sequence of characteristics is

determined by Canons of succession of characteristics, wall-picture principle and its corollaries

Step3: Canons of exclusiveness and exhaustiveness are checked. Principle of Helpful sequence is used to arrange the facets in a helpful manner to majority of the users

Schedules of model schemes are studied for arranging the isolates

Draft schedule in Idea plane is thus prepared

ALLOCATION OF NOTATION

Assign numbers in notational plane Canons of Notational Plane

Basic Canons Mnemonics Hospitality

Notations should be Capable of providing unique class numbers Able to coextensively represent every component idea Able to provide infinite hospitality Able to provide provision for devices Brevity and economy should be respected

BASE TO THE NOTATIONAL SYSTEM

CC is the model scheme Notational base similar to CC

Roman Smalls Indo Arabic Numerals Roman Capitals

PREPARATION OF INDEXES

An alphabetical Index is to be created Isolate ideas are listed with the

fundamental category and index number

Synonyms and antonyms are also included

COMPLETING THE SCHEDULE

Pilot tests are conducted with classifiers and target users of the schedule.

Schedule is completed with A Preface Importance and scope of depth schedule Guidance to the classifier Worked out examples Bibliographical reference

CONCLUSION

Depth classification schedule is a special classification scheme for Micro subjects

The major steps in designing a scheme for depth version is as follows Preliminary Work Collection of Terms Sorting of Terms Allocation of Notations Preparation of Indexes Completing the Schedule

PROCEDURE FOR CLASSIFYING

Steps

Details

1 Identifying the expressive subject of the document

2 Identifying the substantive terms in the title

3 Identifying the roles of the substantive terms in the context of subject under consideration via (BS), (P), (M), (E), (S) & (T)

4 Rearranging the ideas according to the sequence of (BS), (P), (M), (E), (S) & (T). Levels and Rounds are determined by the Wall

Picture Principle. Qualifiers are arranged with respective (FC ) and between them with the help of Wall picture principle.

Similarly qualifiers of order 2 with the respective qualifiers of order 1.

5 The substantive terms may be checked to have the appropriate standard terms used in the schedule

6 Have the terms to represented by the respective numbers given in the schedule

7 The class number may be formed using the schedule and the indicator digits while synthesizing the notation

REFERENCE

M A Gopinath(1986),Construction of Depth Version of Colon Classification: A manual, New Delhi, Wiley Eastern,

Shabahat Husain(2004), Library Classification: Facets and Analyses , New Delhi, B.R. Publishing Corporation

Dr S R Ranganathan (2006), Colon Classification, Bangalore, Sarada Ranganathan Endowment Trust

Dr S R Ranganathan & A Neelameghan, Depth Classification of a Bibliography, 1963, Bangalore, DRTC

Speciator based faceted depth classification’s application in

thesaurus construction Rajendra Kumbhar (Annals of Library and

Information Studies 53,l;2005 pg 15-24)