Ontology
A formal representation of the relationships between concepts in a domain. Goes beyond taxonomy to define how categories relate to each other.
Definition: A formal representation of the relationships between concepts in a domain. Goes beyond taxonomy to define how categories relate to each other.
An ontology is a structured framework that defines not just categories (like a taxonomy) but also the relationships between those categories.
Taxonomy vs. Ontology
| Aspect | Taxonomy | Ontology |
|---|---|---|
| Defines | Categories and hierarchy | Categories, hierarchy, and relationships |
| Question answered | "What type of thing is this?" | "How does this relate to other things?" |
| Complexity | Simpler | More complex |
| Example | "This is a Usability Issue" | "This Usability Issue affects Checkout, which impacts Conversion" |
In Research Practice
An ontology allows you to:
- Map how user problems connect to business outcomes
- Trace issues from symptoms to root causes
- Build knowledge graphs that show interdependencies
Example
Taxonomy only:
- Category: "Navigation Problem"
With ontology:
- "Navigation Problem" → is a type of → "Usability Issue"
- "Navigation Problem" → causes → "Task Failure"
- "Task Failure" → impacts → "User Satisfaction"
- "User Satisfaction" → correlates with → "Retention"
Practical Application
LLMs are effective at identifying relationships between concepts at different levels of abstraction. When building research repositories, ontologies help connect concrete user problems to strategic business themes.
Related Terms
Taxonomy
A classification system that organizes concepts into categories. In research, a predefined set of tags or codes used to systematically categorize qualitative data.
Qualitative Research
Research focused on understanding the 'what' and 'why' through rich stories, observations, and context. Seeks depth of understanding rather than statistical measurement.
Mentions in the Knowledge Hub
This term is referenced in the following articles: