ARCHIVED 2.4.4. Hierarchical Relationships

 

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There are two types of hierarchical relationships: generic-specific and part-whole. Hierarchical relationships are those most frequently used to structure knowledge.

Generic-Specific Hierarchies

In generic-specific relationships, the characteristics of superordinate concepts (broader concepts) are inherited by subordinate concepts (narrower concepts).

The following tree diagram is used to represent generic concept relations (taken from ISO/FDIS 704, 2000: VII):

tree diagrams used to represent generic concept relations

Partitive Hierarchies (Part-Whole)

In a partitive relationship, there is no inheritance of characteristics between the whole and its parts.

The following rake or bracket diagram is used to represent partitive concept relations (taken from ISO/FDIS 704, 2000: VII):

rake or bracket diagram used to represent partitive concept relations