Addressing and Reducing Complexity in Metadata Mappings: RDA to DC and MARC 21

This study investigates whether introducing hierarchical and inclusion relationships to mappings between RDA elements and DC terms/MARC 21 fields can reduce complexity and enhance comprehensibility. The results indicate that applying these relationships elucidates the mapping process, using a proposed data visualization method. Quantitative analysis showed 98.4% and 92.2% consistency in DC and MARC mappings, respectively, with reduced inconsistencies when criteria were adjusted consistently with these relationships. However, certain cases remained unresolved, requiring further investigation into contextual factors affecting mapping inconsistencies. These findings help improve metadata interoperability, helping catalogers understand large-scale mappings.