I'm seeing two different definitions for "Topics": which one is right?

[leeclemmer]

Hi there, new Khoros user here, digging into the analytics offerings. I'm currently trying to figure out what exactly each of the metrics in the Bulk Download Member Data export mean. I've found this page with all of the definitions, but unfortunately that text is less than 100% clear. 

I see that the metric Topics Published is defined as follows:
The overall number of topics, across all types of discussions (forums, blogs, etc.)

From the page on Community Analytics metric definitions, we see that Topic is defined as follows:  
The total number of forum topics or group topics created by all members for the entire Community App or a particular board. [...]

So on the one hand Topics refer to forum or group topics, but on the other Topics Published includes topics across, among others, blogs? I thought blogs only contain Blog Articles? Also, what exactly is a "discussion" in this context?

To further muddy the picture, under the Bulk Download Member Data definitions again, we see that Topics Deleted is defined as:
The total number of threads that have been deleted.

Now there is no mention of blogs or different discussion types, just "threads". I'm assuming that a Thread is a collection of a single Forum Topic with all of its Replies, yes?

While we're at it, there are a few other terms that aren't perfectly clear to me. What is the difference between Conversations Initiated and Topics (ref)? On the Bulk Download Member Data side, we see Forum Conversations, defined as: 
The total number of messages that were posted in the community.

What's a Message in this context? Are Conversations Initiated and Forum Conversations the same thing, or not? 

Thanks for any help clarifying things. 

Cheers, 
Lee

[SudheeshN · Accepted solution]

Hi @leeclemmer 

In Bulk Download Member Data, 'Topics' is being used to signify root posts from all discussion styles (forum topics, ideas, blogs, tkbs etc). I do acknowledge that,  some of the terms used  here are confusing. For example: 1) the use of 'messages' to explain 'Forum conversations' and 2)  use of 'threads' to explain 'Topics Deleted' metric.

We will make those corrections shortly in this page

[leeclemmer]

Thanks @SudheeshN , much appreciated, that answers my main question, so I'll mark as accept. Could you take a stab at the other questions as well? 

A Thread is a collection of a single Forum Topic with all of its Replies, yes?

What is the difference between Conversations Initiated and Topics (ref)?

What's the definition of a Message? (Is it Forum Topic + Forum Replies?)

Are Conversations Initiated and Forum Conversations the same thing, or not? 

Thanks for your help, 

Lee

[SudheeshN]

Hi  @leeclemmer 

A Thread is a collection of a single Forum Topic with all of its Replies - That's correct.

What is the difference between Conversations Initiated and Topics (ref)? - We have removed 'Conversations Initiated' from the link above as it has the same meaning as Topics in this context. 

What's the definition of a Message? -- A message or a post is used to signify either the parent post or reply in a thread across discussion styles (Forum, Ideas, TKBs, Blogs etc)

Are Conversations Initiated and Forum Conversations the same thing -- 'Conversation Initiated' was used to signify Forum Conversations here.