Beyond Facets: Semantic Roots and Modifiers as Elements of a Conceptual Morphology

This paper presents initial ideas on a conceptual morphology in which concepts such as Fermentation, Fermented, and Fermentable are represented as combinations of a semantic root, in the example Ferment, with a modifier, in the example process, state/condition, and susceptible to process, respectively. This makes it possible to generate a large number of concepts from a much smaller list of semantic roots and modifiers. It also allows for great flexibility in indexing and searching. The paper gives a preliminary scheme of modifiers and invites ideas from classification researchers, logicians, and linguists

Framework for data element standardization

This paper describes a method for the definition of data elements in CASE (Computer-Assisted Systems/Software Engineering) systems, data element dictionaries, and data element repositories. The proposed method derives its power from its simplicity and its use of classification and knowledge representation techniques. It is based on the entity-relationship approach. A data element definition consists of a frame which gives the underlying relationship type, the focal entity type (about which the data element gives data), the related entity type (the nature ofthe data values), and a rule for determining the data value. These frames form a hierarchy which is based on a hierarchy of entity types (or ontology) and a hierarchy of relationship types

The description of statistical tables: a problem in data documentation.

Reference to and direct storage of primary data is of growing importance. This explains the interest in the description of statistical tables. The brute-force approach to give each stratifier (that is, the list of all row captions or the list of all column captions) in full has its economical limits. A method is described which makes the description of a large number of large tables economically feasible. The basic idea is to replace the full listing of a stratifier (e.g. US counties) by a reference to a "prefabricated" stratifier available in a classification scheme (e.g. US geographical division) taking into account the hierarchical structure of such a scheme. Modification of prefabricated stratifiers is also possible in order to adapt to small variations occurring in actual tables. The method has also applications in thesaurus building

Knowledge Organization for Learning. Conjectures and Methods of Study

This paper discusses and illustrates through examples how meaningful or deep learning can be supported through well-structured presentation of material, through giving learners schemas they can use to organize knowledge in their minds, and through helping learners to understand knowledge organization principles they can use to construct their schemas. It is a call to all authors, educators and information designers to pay attention to meaningful presentation that expresses the internal structure of the domain and facilitates the learner’s assimilation of concepts and their relationships