Configuring Search Expansion with Controlled Vocabulary for Primo VE
The Controlled Vocabulary Search Expansion feature expands searches with words and phrases that constitute variations of the search term with the same meaning, thereby increasing the accuracy of searches. This service is similar to the expansion with synonyms feature but is more robust. The expansions are visible on the screen and add, for example, variations of the search term with the same meaning (for example ADHD and attention deficit disorder, or name variations such as assata shakur and asata shakur). Users are provided with an option to revert to using only their original search term. All customers see this expansion above the results in searches that include the CDI search scope or local search scopes. Over time, the controlled vocabulary repository is extended so that users see more expansions in their search results.
For example, if the user enters heart attack in the query, Primo also returns results that include myocardial infarction. If the user is interested only in results that include heart attack, the user can select the link to the right of the recommendation.
If the query contains more than one term that can be expanded, the system expands only the term with the most characters. For example, if a user searches for informatics heart attack, the system expands heart attack (12 characters) because it contains more characters than informatics (11 characters).
Depending on the scope of a search, Primo VE uses one of the following controlled vocabulary services:
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Primo's controlled vocabulary service utilizes mappings from various controlled vocabularies, including LCSH (Library of Congress Subject Headings), MeSH (Medical Subject Headings), and Wikipedia. This service is used for local and blended search scopes (such as LibraryCatalog and Everything) if any expansion occurs in the local scope.
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CDI's controlled vocabulary service uses LCSH and MeSH as well as a curated synonym list that is regularly updated. CDI suggestions are generally more conservative than Primo's controlled vocabulary service. Requests to add new controlled vocabulary terms are welcomed and evaluated case-by-case. This service is used for CDI and blended search scopes (such as CentralIndex and Everything) if an expansion occurs only in the CDI scope.
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If the user's query contains Boolean operators (for example, heart attack AND surgery), the system does not provide an expansion for the term (for example, myocardial infarction is not included).
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Regardless of the phrase's context, expansions are added.
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Expansions are not usually bi-directional (for example, the term myocardial infarction is not expanded to the term heart attack).
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This functionality is supported only for simple and advanced library searches within CDI scopes.
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This functionality is disabled when search queries include Boolean operators or exact phrases.
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Select the Use Controlled Vocabulary Search Expansion parameter in the Discovery Customer Settings mapping table (Configuration Menu > Discovery > Other > Customer Settings).
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Update the following codes in the Results Tile Labels code table to modify or translate the labels for this service:
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nui.results.controlVocabulary.including – Including {{equivalentTerm}}.
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nui.results.controlVocabulary.searchOnly – Just search {{query}}
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