Classification Schemes
of Logotherapy
An Exemplary Web Structured Resource in Human Services
Overview & Rationale
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JVFI:
Subject Classification, Chronological Order, Author Index, Title Index,
Subject Index
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IFLJ:
Subject Classification, Chronological Order, Author Index, Title Index,
Subject Index
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Combined
Papers (JVFI & IFLJ)
The Internet became an invaluable resource of information for scholars
and practitioners in the human services, as well as in other academic fields.
The importance of the Internet is reflected in the increasing number of
Web sites of academic journals. Many of these sites enable the readers
to search their huge databases by browsing through structured lists of
papers and abstracts. There are several models for structuring lists of
scholarly papers in academic journal homepages on the Web. Designers can
follow the chronological order of the publication dates, use the alphabetical
order of the authors' names, organize the list according an alphabetical
listing of subject headings and keywords, or classify the papers based
on a subject classification of the relevant fields.
Each of these models has its own advantages and limitations. The chronological
order of issues and alphabetical listing of authors are the most common
and simple ways to organize bibliographic materials. However, these two
thrifty ways usually fail to present the thematic relations among the relevant
papers. By contrast, the two subject-based models aim to facilitate access
to the papers by presenting thematic relations among them.
An alphabetical listing of subject headings aims to facilitate quick
access to papers related to a specific subject heading. It is especially
useful when the user is familiar with the subject matter and can easily
identify the relevant subject headings. A subject classification is systematic,
and aims to facilitate information seeking and retrieval based on the thematic
context. It is especially useful for users who are not familiar with the
subject matter and cannot identify the thematic relations among the various
terms.
Furthermore, a subject classification enables developers of reference
resources to structure the subject domain by mapping the structural relations
among its major parts. Consequently, it enables lay users, as well as professionals,
to understand the structure of the subject domain and the conceptual relations
among the major parts of the relevant body of knowledge.
However, developing a subject classification scheme is too complicated
and time consuming. Usually, it is a product of teamwork, namely a cooperation
among experts who represent different fields of expertise. A subject classification
scheme is, in a sense, a compromise between diversified and very often
contradictory considerations regarding the subject matter, the media, the
prospective users, the environmental conditions, the organizational conditions,
etc. It reflects explicit interests and hidden agendas of the participating
experts.
The subject-matter specialist plays an important role in this ensemble.
He or she represents the various disciplinary perspectives and considerations.
Symbolically, he or she represents his or her colleagues and their diversified
conceptual, theoretical, methodological and scientific positions relating
to the subject matter. Apparently, the various perspectives culminate in
the knowledge outline of the field that he/she presents to his/her colleagues
in the multi-disciplinary and multi- perspective developing team.
This specific knowledge outline is no more than an optional knowledge
structure. The expert does not reveal an existing structure. He or she
constructs it in his/her mind. Knowledge structuring is a product of an
intellectual enterprise. However, it should adequately represent the disciplinary
perspective. It should be systematic, comprehensive, updated and scientifically
valid.
This Web site exemplifies five models for structuring Web bibliographic
resources, namely subject classification, chronological order of papers,
alphabetical order of authors (author index), alphabetical order of titles
(title index), alphabetical order of subject headings and keywords (subject
index). Specifically, it demonstrates the five classification schemes by
classifying 109 papers on Logotherapy, published in the Journal des Viktor
Frankl Instituts, an International Journal of Logotherapy and Existential
Analysis, and 107 papers published in International Forum Journal of Search
for Meaning. The subject classification scheme of Logotherapy is a systematic,
comprehensive, updated and scientifically valid knowledge outline of Logotherapy.
It is based on a study done by Prof. David Guttmann (Logotherapist, School
of Social Work) and Dr. Chaim Zins (Information scientist, Department of
Human Services) at the Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Studies, the
University of Haifa.
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The subject classification scheme of Logotherapy is based
on a study done by Dr. Chaim Zins (Department of Human Services) and Prof.
David Guttmann (School of Social Work), Faculty of Social Welfare and Health
Studies, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa, 31905, Israel
Copyright Chaim Zins, 1999, University of Haifa, Israel
email: chaimz@research.haifa.ac.il
Phone: 972-4-824-9707, Fax: 972-4-824-9282