Taxonorics

In designing a format and system for coding data to be processed by electronic methods, a taxonorist must make a sequence of intellectual and pragmatic decisions. The intellectual decisions, which were described in the previous communication of this pair,1deal with ascertaining the purpose of the procedures, choosing the classes of data to be coded, contemplating categories within each class, and formulating criteria that will be used to convert the raw data into the selected categories. This communication is devoted Outline Types of format Unstructured format Specificational format Sectional format Number of formats Types of field The "coding taxonomy" Contingency fields Supplemental categories in a class Branching classes External restrictions in length Capacity of computer The electric sorter The expression of categories Types of citation Partitions of a class of data Characteristics of categories Types of categories Number of categories Range of categories Principles of partition Adequate range Shades