Degree of Determinacy

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Degrees of Determinacy (D)

The "Degrees of Determinacy" represent the different levels of contentual congruence between headings of the German Subject Headings Authority File (SWD) and assigned DDC classes. The method to find out how congruent a SWD heading and a chosen DDC class are, is being achieved by comparing their given scopes of meaning. In retrieval systems the Degrees of Determinacy can be used for ranking as well as for regulation of recall and precision of search results.

In CrissCross the following four Degrees of Determinacy have been established:

Degree of Determinacy 4 (D4)

The connotation scope of the SWD heading is identical to the connotation scope of the topic emphasized in the DDC class heading. According to CrissCross D4 search results would provide "Direct hits".

 SWD   DDC   D 
 Kriegsrecht <Völkerrecht>   341.6  4 
 Skunks   599.768   4 

Degree of Determinacy 3 (D3)

The connotation scope of the SWD heading is identical or nearly identical to the connotation scope of a topic that approximates the whole of the assigned DDC class. According to DDC terms, topics that are nearly coextensive with the full meaning of a class or cover more than half of the content of the class approximate the whole of the DDC class. Topics in class-here notes are typical examples. According to CrissCross D3 search results would provide "Crucial hits".

 SWD   DDC   D 
 Zarzuela   782.12   3 
 Häkeln   746.434   3 

Degree of Determinacy 2 (D2)

The connotation scope of the SWD heading is identical or nearly identical to the connotation scope of a topic that is logically part of the class but is less extensive in scope than the concept represented by the class number. Topics in including notes are typical examples. According to CrissCross D2 search results would provide "Adequate hits".

 SWD   DDC   D 
 Cool Jazz   781.655   2 
 Oberschenkel   611.98   2 

Degree of Determinacy 1 (D1)

The connotation scope of the SWD heading corresponds to a small part to the connotation scope of the assigned DDC class. According to CrissCross D1 search results would provide "Small intersection hits".

 SWD   DDC   D 
 Gleichaltrigkeit   303.327   1 
 Flugzeugwrack   363.124   1 

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