Hierarchical
Hierarchical (pronunciation: /ˌhaɪəˈrɑːkɪkəl/)
Hierarchical, derived from the Greek words 'hieros' meaning 'sacred' and 'archein' meaning 'to rule', is a term used in various fields of study including medicine, biology, and psychology. It refers to a system, model, or structure that is organized in a way where each element is subordinate to a level above it. This creates a ranking or hierarchy, where each level is "above" or "below" others.
Medical Usage
In medicine, the term hierarchical is often used to describe models or systems that are organized in levels of importance or complexity. For example, the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) uses a hierarchical structure to classify diseases and health conditions. Similarly, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) uses a hierarchical approach to classify mental disorders.
Related Terms
- Hierarchy: A system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority.
- Hierarchical clustering: A method of cluster analysis which seeks to build a hierarchy of clusters.
- Hierarchical condition categories (HCC): A risk adjustment model used to calculate payment rates for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans.
- Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM): A statistical regression analysis technique used in social sciences.
Etymology
The term hierarchical originates from the Greek words 'hieros' meaning 'sacred' and 'archein' meaning 'to rule'. It was first used in English in the 17th century to describe the organization of the church, and has since been applied to various other fields of study.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Hierarchical
- Wikipedia's article - Hierarchical
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