TERM SELECTION IS BASED, LARGELY, ON THE VOCABULARY OF THE AUTHORS OF THE DOCUMENTS ENTERING THE NCJRS SYSTEM, ON THE FREQUENCY OF TERM USAGE IN THE LITERATURE, AND ON THE LANGUAGE OF THE USER COMMUNITY. TWO TYPES OF TERMS ARE LISTED: DESCRIPTORS AND SYNONYMS OR NEAR SYNONYMS. DESCRIPTORS ARE AUTHORITATIVE TERMS THAT ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR INDEXING AND SEARCHING. THE THESAURUS ALSO INCLUDES ORGANIZATIONAL AND GEOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTORS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).