Taxonomies & Classification for Organizing Content Brian Lewis INF 385E - Information Architecture November 14, 2005

Overview Why organize? Organization schemes & structures Definitions of classification & taxonomy Characteristics of classification & taxonomy Classification design Taxonomies design Conclusions

Why do people organize things? To understand - create frameworks To explain - create relationships To control - create intentionally designed frameworks and relationships

Why do IAs organize things? All those same reasons "The way we organize, label, and relate information influences the way people comprehend that information." (Rosenfeld & Morville, 2002, p. 50) For findability

How do IAs organize things? Organization schemes - groupings based on characteristics of content items Organization structures Defines pathways between content items Provides navigation

Definitions Classification Organization scheme "Collection of labeled boxes to put information" (vanRees, p. 4) "Systematic arrangement in groups or categories according to established criteria" (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)

Definitions Taxonomy Organization structure "Orderly classification (of plants and animals) according to their presumed natural relationships" (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary) "A hierarchical arrangement of categories within the user interface." (Rosenfeld & Morevllle, p. 65)

Simplified Metataxonomy? Finding aids Controlled vocabulary Classification Taxonomy Thesauri

Characteristics Classification Implied relationships between items in a group Can be hierarchical Navigational aid Subject to interpretation

Characteristics Taxonomies Relationships are inherent in the structure Is hierarchical by definition* Navigational aid Browse Constrain search Linking to preferred terms A form of classification

Classification Design Exact organization schemes Well defined Mutually exclusive Examples Alphabetical Chronological Geographical

Classification Design (cont.) Ambiguous Items don't fit neatly into a group Examples Topic Task Audience Metaphor Hybrids

Taxonomy (hierarchy) design Simple hierarchy Top-down - exact content not known Bottom-up Breadth / Depth Polyhierarchy Allows cross listing Useful in ambiguous classification schemes Facets "focuses on the important, essential or persistent characteristics of content objects" (The Knowledge Management Connection)

Conclusions Distinctions but some overlap Useful for organizing information Make information accessible Support mental models Make Web sites more usable Make Web sites seem smaller Powerful way to create meaning

References Garshol, L. (2004). "Metadata? Thesauri? Taxonomies? Topic maps! Making sense of it all." Journal of Information Science, 30 (4), pp. 378-391. Modjeska, D., & Marsh, A. (1997). "Structure and Memorability of Web Sites." Toronto: Computer Science Research Institute of the University of Toronto. Rosenfeld, L. & Morville, P. (2002). Information architecture for the World Wide Web. Cambridge; Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly. Taylor, A. (1999). The organization of information. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited. The Knowledge Managmement Connection. Faceted Classification of Information. Retrieved on November 13, 2005 from http://www.kmconnection.com/DOC100100.htm

References (cont.) Van Duyne, D. K., Landay, J. A., & Hong, J. I. (2003). The design of sites. Cambridge: Addison-Wesley. Van Rees, R. (2003). Clarity in the usage of the terms ontology, taxonomy and classification. CIB73 2003 Conference Paper. http://vanrees.org/research/papers/cib2003.pdf

Questions ?