Diagnosis

DEFINITION:

The process of identifying, classifying, labeling, or categorizing a condition, pattern, phenomenon, situation, or state based upon observed characteristics, evidence, criteria, or interpretation.

FUNCTION:

Transforms observations into recognizable categories by assigning names and classifications that allow communication, understanding, decision-making, and action.

EXAMPLES:

  • Medical diagnoses
  • Technical diagnoses
  • Psychological diagnoses
  • Organizational assessments
  • Problem identification
  • System evaluations
  • Fault detection

RELATED SYMBOLS:

RELATED SYSTEMS:

NOTES:

Diagnoses provide a framework through which observations can be interpreted and communicated. Different diagnostic systems may produce different classifications depending upon the criteria, models, assumptions, and definitions employed.

CONTROL TEXT OBSERVATION:

The act of naming often begins with classification. Diagnosis transforms uncertainty into a recognized category by assigning a label to a collection of observations, allowing a phenomenon to become identifiable, discussable, and actionable within a system of meaning.