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Facet analysis: The logical approach to knowledge organization

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Author/contributor
Title
Facet analysis: The logical approach to knowledge organization
Abstract
The facet-analytic paradigm is probably the most distinct approach to knowledge organization within Library and Information Science, and in many ways it has dominated what has be termed “modern classification theory”. It was mainly developed by S.R. Ranganathan and the British Classification Research Group, but it is mostly based on principles of logical division developed more than two millennia ago. Colon Classification (CC) and Bliss 2 (BC2) are among the most important systems developed on this theoretical basis, but it has also influenced the development of other systems, such as the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) and is also applied in many websites. It still has a strong position in the field and it is the most explicit and “pure” theoretical approach to knowledge organization (KO) (but it is not by implication necessarily also the most important one). The strength of this approach is its logical principles and the way it provides structures in knowledge organization systems (KOS). The main weaknesses are (1) its lack of empirical basis and (2) its speculative ordering of knowledge without basis in the development or influence of theories and socio-historical studies. It seems to be based on the problematic assumption that relations between concepts are a priori and not established by the development of models, theories and laws.
Publication
Information Processing & Management
Volume
49
Issue
2
Pages
545-557
Date
March 2013
Journal Abbr
Information Processing & Management
Language
en
ISSN
0306-4573
Citation
Hjørland, B. (2013). Facet analysis: The logical approach to knowledge organization. Information Processing & Management, 49(2), 545–557. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ipm.2012.10.001
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Contribution