Which term describes a standardized set of pre-approved terms used consistently in a catalog or database to describe content and improve retrieval accuracy?

Which term describes a standardized set of pre-approved terms used consistently in a catalog or database to describe content and improve retrieval accuracy?

• A. Controlled vocabulary
• B. Subject heading
• C. Keyword search
• D. Digital resources

Answer: (A)

A controlled vocabulary is a standardized set of pre-approved terms used consistently to describe content in a catalog or database. Using the same terms across records reduces language variation and ambiguity, so searches pull together all relevant items even if different authors use different words. This consistency directly improves retrieval accuracy because indexing and searching align on the same labels, and many controlled vocabularies include relationships like broader and narrower terms to help users refine or expand their queries. A subject heading is one example within a controlled vocabulary, but the term asked refers to the whole system of standardized terms. Keyword searches are free-form and rely on the exact words a user types, which can miss items described with different terminology. Digital resources are the items themselves, not the labeling system.

A controlled vocabulary is a standardized set of pre-approved terms used consistently to describe content in a catalog or database. Using the same terms across records reduces language variation and ambiguity, so searches pull together all relevant items even if different authors use different words. This consistency directly improves retrieval accuracy because indexing and searching align on the same labels, and many controlled vocabularies include relationships like broader and narrower terms to help users refine or expand their queries. A subject heading is one example within a controlled vocabulary, but the term asked refers to the whole system of standardized terms. Keyword searches are free-form and rely on the exact words a user types, which can miss items described with different terminology. Digital resources are the items themselves, not the labeling system.