Information retrieval: models of interaction
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Transcript Information retrieval: models of interaction
Interaction in
information retrieval
There is MUCH more to
searching than knowing
computers, networks &
commands, as there is
more to writing than
knowing word processing
packages
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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IR as interaction
If USER & USE central:
Interaction is a dominant feature of
contemporary IR
Interaction has many facets:
with
systems, technology
with texts viewed/retrieved
intermediaries with people
Several interactive IR models
none as widely accepted as
traditional IR model
Broader area: human-computer
interaction (HCI) studies
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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HCI: broader concepts
“Any interaction takes place
through one or more interfaces
& involves two or more
participants who each have
one or more purposes for the
interaction”
Storrs, 1994
Participants: people & artifacts ‘computer’ (everything in it)
Interface: a common boundary
Issue: identification of
important aspects, roles of each
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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HCI … definitions
“Interaction is the exchange of
information between
participants where each has the
purpose of using the exchange
to change the state of itself or of
one or more of others”
“An interaction is a dialogue
for the purpose of
modifying the state of one
or more participants”
Key concepts:
exchange, change
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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IR interaction is ...
“... the interactive communication
processes that occur during the
retrieval of information by
involving all the major
participants in IR, i.e. the user,
the intermediary, and the IR
system.”
Ingwersen, 1992
Involved:
users
intermediaries
(possibly)
everything in IR system
communication processes exchange of information
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Central questions
What variables are involved?
models
give lists
How do they affect the process?
How to control?
experiments,
experience,
observation give answers
Do given interventions or
communications improve or
degrade the process?
e.g.
searcher’s (intermediaries
or end-users) actions
Can systems be designed so that
searcher’s intervention
improves performance?
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Interactive IR models
Several models proposed
none
as widely accepted as the
traditional IR model
They all try to incorporate
objects (“texts”):
IR system & setting
interface
intermediary, if present
user’s characteristics
information
cognitive
aspects; task; problem;
interest; goal; preferences ...
social
environment
variety of processes between them
all.
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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User modeling
Identifying elements about a user
that impact interaction, searching,
types of retrieval …:
who
is the user (e.g. education)
what is the problem, task at hand
what is the need; question
how much s/he knows about it
what will be used for
how much wanted, how fast
what environment is involved
Much more than just a question
Related
to reference interview
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Stratified model - start:
A-C-A model of inf. use
Assumption: Users interact with IR
systems to use information
A-C-A model components:
Acquisition:
getting information
Cognition: absorbing information
Application: using absorbed
information
Could be re-iterative
Each involves
different
aspects, elements
interplays between them
Basis for interaction model
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Stratified model
Interaction: sequence of
processes/episodes occurring in
several levels or strata
= INTREPLAY between levels
Structure:
Several
User levels
Produce a Query - has characteristics
Several ‘Computer’ levels
They all meet on the Surface level
Dialogue enabled by Interface
user
utterances
computer ‘utterances’
Adaptation/changes in all
Geared toward Information use
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Elements in the stratified
model of IR interaction
Situational
tasks...
Affective
intent..
Cognitive
knowledge
structure ...
Query
characteristics
Surface level
INTERFACE
Engineering
hardware, capacities...
Processing
software, algorithms...
Content
information resources - texts
representation ...
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Roles of levels or strata
Defining of what’s involved
whassup?
Help in recognition/separation of
differing variables
each
strata or level involves
different elements, roles, &
processes
Observation of interaction
between strata - complex
dynamics
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Interplay between levels
Interplay on user side:
Cognitive:
between cognitive structures o
texts & users
Affective: between intentions & other
Situational: between texts & tasks
Similar interplay on computer side
Surface:
searching,
navigation, browsing, display
visualization, query characterization
Interplay judgments in searching:
evaluation
of results - relevance
Changing of models: situation, need ...
selection of search terms
resulting modifications - feedback
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Intermediaries - YOU
Intermediaries could participate
as an additional interface many roles:
diagnostic
help in problem, query
formulation
system interface handling
selection, interpretation &
manipulation of inf. resources
interpretation of results
education of users
enablers of end-users
Basic role: optimizing results
Act in processes at different
levels
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Implications
Interaction central to IR including in
searching of the Web
We see it on the surface level
But result of MANY variables,
levels & their interplay
IR interaction requires knowledge
of these levels & interplays
many
users have difficulties
so do many professionals
Design of interfaces for interaction
still lacking
People compensate in many ways
including trial & error, failures
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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What happens in
searching?
Highly reiterative process
back
& forth between user
modeling & (re)formulating
search strategy
goes on & on in many feedback
loops, twists & turns, shifts
Search strategy (the big picture)
selection/reselection
of sources
stating a query (search
statement) from a question
terms, their expansions, logic,
qualifications, limitations
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Searching … (cont.)
Search tactics (action steps)
what
to do first, next
e.g. from broad to narrow
searches
format of results
Evaluation of results
as
to magnitude - how much?
as to relevance - how well?
feedback to change after that
user
model - e.g. question
strategy - e.g. files, query
tactics - e.g. narrowing, broadening
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Berry-picking model of a
search & searcher (Bates)
“…moving through many actions
towards a general goal of
satisfactory completion of research
related to information need.”
query is shifting (continually)
searcher (user) may move through
a variety of sources
new information may provide new
ideas, new directions
question is not satisfied by a single
set of answers, but by a series of
selections & bits of information
found along the way
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Implications (Shuman)
Prepare carefully
Understand your opponent
e.g.
Anticipate
e.g.
Dialog, Lexis-Nexis
hidden meaning of terms
Have a contingency plan
assessing
odds of success or
points of diminishing returns
Avoid ambiguity
inherent
in language
Stay loose!
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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