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Lalthoum Saàdani and Suzanne Bertrand-Gastaldy

Conceptual Maps and Thesauri : A Comparison of Two Models of Representation Arising from Different Disciplinary Traditions. Lalthoum Saàdani and Suzanne Bertrand-Gastaldy École de bibliothéconomie et des sciences de l’information Université de Montréal CAIS/ACSI 2000.

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Lalthoum Saàdani and Suzanne Bertrand-Gastaldy

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  1. Conceptual Maps and Thesauri: A Comparison of Two Models of Representation Arising from Different Disciplinary Traditions Lalthoum Saàdani and Suzanne Bertrand-Gastaldy École de bibliothéconomie et des sciences de l’information Université de Montréal CAIS/ACSI 2000

  2. INTRODUCTION ”The development of hypermedia and databases consisting of full-text versions of documents has created intermediate situations between information seeking and content learning" (Roger, Lavandier and Kolmayer 1998) (our translation) ”The goal of an information system or a learning system should be the identification of discontinuities in understanding" (Duncan and McAleese 1987:377)

  3. Presentation scheme • Definition of Thesaurus and Conceptual Map • Objects represented • Elaboration steps • Functions or uses • Units of representation and their syntax • Display formats • Evaluation of the two representational models • Conclusion

  4. Thesaurus - Definition "The vocabulary of a controlled indexing language, formally organized so that the a priori relationships between concepts (for example as "broader" and "narrower”) are made explicit" (ISO 2788, 1986:2) "A controlled set of terms selected from natural language and used to represent, in abstract form, the subjects of documents" (ISO 2788, 1986:2)

  5. Conceptual Map - Definition "Concept mapping involves identifying concepts or ideas pertaining to a subject, and then describing the relationships that exist between these ideas in the form of a drawing sketch. The purpose of the map is to represent an individual's understanding of a body of knowledge, and to illustrate the relationships among ideas that are meaningful to him or her"(Sherratt and Schlabach 1990: 60-61). " Schematic device for representing a set of concept meanings embedded in a framework of propositions” (Novak and Gowin, 1984).

  6. Other names for conceptual maps • Mind Maps • WebMaps • Knowledge Maps or Kmaps • Cognitive Maps • Cognitive Structures

  7. Conceptual Maps and Cognitive Maps « Conceptual maps are related to the model of the thesaurus, cognitive maps are related to the mental model of users » (Borgman 1986) « A concept map is a map constructed by experts, and represents many of the commonalties of their knowledge of the domain […] a cognitive map is a map constructed by a nonexpert individual […] and has a lesser degree of disciplinary validity » (Mahler et al. 1991)

  8. Thesauri Concepts Having literary warrant Useful for information retrieval Conventional relationships (limited and internationally standardized typology and notation) Conceptual Maps Concepts Chosen by the map's designer In education science, conceptual maps present generic concepts, their precise definition and the inter-relationships. Various non-standardized relationships What is Represented?

  9. Thesauri Concepts are represented by: the indexing terms (descriptors or preferred terms) Concepts can be: Concrete entities (things and their parts; materials) Abstract concepts (actions and events; abstract entities and properties of objects, materials and actions; disciplines and sciences and units of measure) Proper nouns (individual entities or individual classes expressed as proper nouns) Conceptual maps Concepts are represented by: Nodes containing words from natural language Concepts can be: Events Objects or Things Processes Sensations Ideas Constructs Situations Properties Recognized signs or symbols The representation of concepts

  10. Thesauri Alphabetical or graphic symbols Equivalence relationships: Use or for Use UF or = for Used for Hierarchic relationships: NT or > for Narrower Terms BT or < for Broader Terms Hierarchic relationships include: generic relations (genus-species) partitive relations (whole-part) instantiation poly-hierarchic relations Associative relationships: RT or - for Related Terms SN for Scope Notes. Conceptual Maps Natural language words Arcs labelled by verbs, prepositions, names or logical connectors, variable linking words. Causal relationships or using links Dynamic semantic links (x influences y, leads to) Static links (Type, part) Instructional links (analogy, example) Physical relationships (under, near) Temporal relationships (precede, follow) Logical relationships (cause, product) Relationships

  11. Thesauri Linear (alphabetical, permuted) Hierarchic (systematic) Graphic Arrowgraphs Tree structure Circular form Terminogram Conceptual Maps Graphic and hierarchic (less strict hierarchy) Other forms: Semantic network Tree graph Histogram Geographic map etc. Display formats

  12. Conceptual maps: display formats

  13. Thesauri Choice of form. Choice of terms. Choice of grouping mode. Choice of relationships. Choice of representation format. Compilation. Conceptual maps Identification of concepts. Organisation of concepts from the general to the specific. Establishing relationships among concepts. Compiling or sketching map. Stages of Production

  14. Thesauri Vocabulary control Facilitation of information retrieval: Representation of content and search questions. Suggestion of search terms (query expansion) Help in understanding a term's use context. Act as an interface or intermediary between users and the information systems. Conceptual maps Organize and present a field's or a part of a field's conceptual structure. Graphically represent the meaning of a set of concepts. Visualize the understanding an individual has of a field of knowledge. Represent users' cognitive structure. Facilitate teaching and learning Evaluate learners' cognitive structures and measure their knowledge. Identify and correct misconceptions. Function or Use

  15. Thesauri Linear form: Difficulty of manipulation (cumbersome, redundancies) Graphic form Reinforces the representiveness of a thesaurus. Emphasizes the semantic context of descriptors. Favours better interaction between users and the information systems. If in conceptual map form Enables users to compare their own mental maps with the system’s graphic representation maps. If in semantic nets form Reduces the volume of a thesaurus. Favours a more intelligent behaviour based on inference reasoning. Conceptual maps An effective tool in learning activities. Useful essentially as an evaluation technique. An appropriate tool to represent a knowledge domain. Effective tool to externalize the cognitive structures of designers. Evaluation

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