PILOTS Thesaurus: Using the Alphabetical Index
The Alphabetical Index to the Thesaurus is a list of terms describing material that might be sought by a user of the PILOTS database. It includes not only the 1100-odd PILOTS descriptors but also a large number of other words and phrases that database users might have in mind. Its purpose is to indicate which of these terms should be used in searching the database, and to display the relationships between all of the terms listed.
The Alphabetical Index shows three kinds of relationships among terms:
- Equivalence relationships
- Hierarchical relationships
- Associative relationships
For many descriptors, it also gives a Scope Note (abbreviated SN) that explains the way in which the term is used in the PILOTS database.
Equivalence Relationship (USE and UF)
In an equivalence relationship, two or more terms express the same (or nearly the same) concept, at least for indexing purposes. One of these terms is chosen as the descriptor, and is used whenever a publication dealing with that concept is indexed in the database. That term is listed in bold face type. Its synonyms are listed in ordinary type, with a reference to the descriptor that should be used in searching. For example:
Firemen
..USE: Fire Fighters
In each case, both sides of the relationship are shown. Thus you would also find:
Fire Fighters
..UF: Firemen
"UF" simply means "used for"; in this case, the descriptor "Fire Fighters" is used for the term "Firemen."
Hierarchical Relationship (BT and NT)
In a hierarchical relationship, one descriptor (the "Broader Term") describes a class or a whole, of which other descriptors ("Narrower Terms") are members or parts. One descriptor may be a broader term of another, and a narrower term of yet another descriptor.
For example, "Drug Therapy" is a class of treatment of which "Antidepressant Drugs" is an example; thus "Drug Therapy" is a broader term (BT) of "Antidepressant Drugs." "Drug Therapy" is also a member of the more general class of "Treatment" and is thus a narrower term (NT) of "Treatment." In the Alphabetical Index this relationship would appear as follows:
Drug Therapy
..BT: Treatment
..NT: Antidepressant Drug
This relationship would also be shown under the entries for "Antidepressant Drugs" and "Treatment."
In the Alphabetical Index to the PILOTS Thesaurus, only the hierarchical level immediately above and immediately below each descriptor is shown. (For a representation of all broader and narrower levels, see the Systematic Table.)
Associative Relationship (RT)
In an associative relationship, two terms are linked to suggest that someone searching for information indexed under one term might also wish to consider using the other, even though the PILOTS Thesaurus does not place them in a hierarchical relationship. For example, "Pregnancy," "Abortion," and "Miscarriage" are all shown as related terms (RT), even though they are narrower terms of three different descriptors, because it is likely that papers indexed under one of those terms might be of interest to those searching for material indexed under the others.
In some cases this relationship is indicated where two opposite concepts exist. Thus "Transference" and "Countertransference" (both narrower terms of "Psychotherapeutic Processes") are shown as related terms.
Pattern Matching
We have described a PILOTS search as "an exercise in pattern matching." By using the PILOTS Thesaurus, you can ensure that the pattern that you are trying to match actually exists within the database, and increase your chances of finding the papers you need for your research or clinical work.
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