Browsing the Thesaurus
- Start the Thesaurus via 'Thesaurus Online Version'.
- Choose the subject area for your search and navigate along its hierarchic structure.
RTs, i.e. Related Terms, suggest terms which may be of interest for your indexing or search,
but which are placed in other subject areas or contexts. They help you to navigate through the
entire Thesaurus.
Please note:
- indentures:
- indentures in the hierarchical
display indicate superordinations (broader terms), or
subordinations (narrower terms)
- descriptor+:
- '+' following a descriptor
indicates the existence of further narrower terms
- hyperlinks:
- all descriptors and relations
are clickable, allowing easy navigation through the Thesaurus
Looking for a term
1. Search field: options
- full string:
- full term (example: embryonic stem cells)
- partial string:
- sequence of signs which should be part of the descriptor searched for (example: embryon)
- search combinations:
- combination of full and/or partial strings by '+' (without blanks!; example: embry+cell; inf+consent)
Please note:
- the strings do not need to be framed by inverted commas ("..."); they are automatically combined by AND
- when searching a combination of full and/or partial strings do not place any blanks before or after the '+' sign
- text strings are truncated automatically
- the search function is not case sensitive
2. Search and search results
Clicking the 'ok' button activates the search function. The system searches all descriptors and non-descriptors.
The display of search results shows three different categories:
-
"search results in descriptors" =
direct hits among descriptors
-
example:
search string: embryon
results: embryonic development; embryonic stem cells
-
"search results in non-descriptors (single, UF)" =
hits among non-descriptors which are allocated to one descriptor only
-
example:
search string: decision by proxy
result:
decision by proxy USE third-party consent
-
"search results in non-descriptors (multiple, UF+)" =
hits among non-descriptors which are expressed by a combination of two descriptors (multiple, UF+)
-
example:
search string: consent+organ removal
result:
consent to organ removal USE organ harvesting AND consent
3. Collecting search results (basket)
The Thesaurus offers a basket function, in order to facilitate indexing. The basket allows indexers
to first collect their choice of descriptors in the basket and then edit and prepare the group of chosen
descriptors for import into the respective indexing systems.
- Collecting descriptors
-
The last line of the grey box, which contains detailed information on the chosen descriptor (marked up in red), shows the button 'Add to basket'.
Clicking here places the chosen descriptor in all three language versions directly into the basket. The function does not take you to the basket, but allows you to continue collecting further descriptors.
- Editing descriptors
-
If you wish to check or edit your basket, click on "Basket" in the main menu on the top of the page.
The descriptors in the basket can be edited and/or supplemented with additional markings which may be necessary for your indexing.
You can now copy and paste the list of descriptors to your indexing system.
Please note:
- Any changes on this page must be saved by pressing the "Save changes" button, before you return to the Thesaurus. Otherwise changes will be lost.
- Changes are not automatically implemented in all language fields. The language fields must be edited individually.
Entry window
The entry window contains three areas of information:
1. Upper part of the window: navigation and search elements and basket
- Home
- back to Thesaurus Homepage
- Help / Glossary
- opens 'help' or 'glossary' window respectively
- English / German / French
- allows switching between the different language versions
- Basket
- opens the basket for viewing and editing collected descriptors
- Subject Area
- offers direct access to the individual subject areas
- Search string
- entry field for search terms
2. Left part of the window: hierarchical display
The relevant descriptor is marked up in red. It is displayed in its hierarchical location.
Indentures indicate superordination or subordination.
'+' following a descriptor indicates the existence of further narrower terms.
3. Right part of the window: descriptor informationen (grey box)
The grey box contains all information corresponding to the marked descriptor.
- Subj. Area
- subject area(s) in which the descriptor is located
- Ger
- corresponding descriptor in the German version
- Fr
- corresponding descriptor in the French version
- History
- History note documenting additions of descriptors or rephrasings
- SN
- Scope Note; brief texts supplementing a
descriptor entry and providing background information on its use and intended scope;
they can also point to alternatives or give short definitions; scope notes which were
not compiled by the project partners are accompanied by
attributions of reference
- UF
- Used for: indicates that the descriptor has one or more non-descriptors
- UF+
- Used for combination: indicates that the descriptor is one of two descriptors which in combination cover the concept of the non-descriptors following UF+
- RT
- related term; clickable
- Conc
- concordances, i.e. the descriptor(s) or descriptor combinations which were used in the
reference thesauri in order to express the same concept.
[B: Bioethics Thesaurus, E: Euroethics Thesaurus, M: MeSH (in brackets: MeSH Unique Identifier); I: INSERM Thesaurus]
- Basket
- 'Add to basket' places the chosen descriptor into the basket
For abbreviations and definitions see Glossary.