An introduction to classifications, taxonomies and typologies

Summary

The objective of this article is to provide a high-level introduction to classification. Classifications, taxonomies and typologies are pervasive in research and constitute the building blocks of our knowledge. Often, classifications give rise to heated but ill-conceived debates on which is the “right” classification scheme for a given topic. The objective of this article is to introduce the reader to scientific classification methods.

Definitions

First, let’s review the basic vocabulary that will help us distinguish classifications, taxonomies and typologies:

In practice, we will most of the time use the generic term classification because most of our classifications will be both empirical and conceptual.

An infinite number of classifications

Given a set of things, countless arbitrary classifications may be developed to categorize its items.

The objective of classification

Classifications may pursue diverse objectives (academic research, census and statistical purposes, organizational, etc.). Hence, before debating on whether one particular classification is better than another, the key question that should receive a clear answer is:

It is then possible to answer the valid question:

Defining the population under study

If we don’t know with some level of precision what it is that we are trying to classify, there’s no point in classifying in the first place.

Dimensions

By definition, a classification must be based on observable properties of the population being studied. Dimensions may be either first observed in the field and then promoted as classification dimensions or built conceptually and then applied to the population.

More on this…

For anyone who wishes to dig deeper into the subject of classification, I warmly recommend this book: .

Bibliography

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