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Searching the Data Citation Index Thesaurus

This search aid allows you to select one or more Super Taxa and/or Taxa Notes terms to add to your search query.

You can expand each hierarchy to browse for controlled terms and to see their positions in the hierarchy. You can also search the entire thesaurus to find the appropriate controlled term(s) to add to your search query.

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Find Option

1. Enter a word or phrase in the text box. Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) and wildcards (* ? $) are permitted.

2. Click the Find button to go to a list of terms that contain the characters that you entered. For example, if you enter organ* as the search term, the product finds every item in the index that contains the Thesaurus Term. For example: Actinomycetes and Related Organisms.

3. Click the Add button to select an item from the list. The selected item is added to the text box at the bottom of the page.

4. Click OK to transfer the selected item(s) to the Subject Descriptors field on the Search page.

   If you are performing an Advanced Search, the product transfers the selected title(s) to the field box on the Advanced Search page along with the correct field tag. For example: DE=(Actinomycetes and Related Organisms)

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Browsing for Super Taxa and Taxa Notes Terms

• Click the View in Hierarchy icon to browse the Super Taxa or Taxa Notes hierarchy subsection for the selected term.

• Click the View Thesaurus Details icon to view broader and narrower terms.

• Click the Expand Term icon to display narrower terms.

• Click the Collapse Term icon.

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Thesaurus Index Terms

Broader Term

Broader terms are known to be wider in scope than the one selected from the thesaurus hierarchy. Only the terms one level wider are given. If a term has multiple broader terms, then more than one hierarchy will appear.

Narrower Term

Narrower terms are generally terms that are more focused in scope. Only the terms one level narrower are given. If a term has multiple broader terms, all narrower terms may not necessarily be in the same branch of the hierarchy.

Related Term

Controlled terms related to the preferred term.

Scope Notes

Scope notes generally describe how a term or code is used and/or provide historical information about its use.