Psychological aspects of information retrieval (original) (raw)

Towards a cognitive theory of information retrieval

Interacting with Computers, 1998

A framework for constructing a cognitive model of users' information searching behaviour is described. The motivation for the framework is to create explanatory and predictive theories of information searching to improve the design of information retrieval (IR) systems. The framework proposes a taxonomy of components for process models of the information seeking task, information need types and knowledge sources necessary to support the task. The framework is developed into a preliminary version of a cognitive theory of information searching by the addition of strategies and correspondence rules which predict user behaviour in different task stages according to information need types, facilities provided by the IR system and knowledge held by the user. The theory is evaluated by using claims analysis based on empirical observations of users information retrieval and by a walkthrough of an IR session to investigate how well the theory can account for empirical evidence. Results show that the theory can indicate the expert strategies which should be followed in different task contexts but predictions of actual user behaviour are less accurate. The future possibilities for employing the theoretical model as a tutorial advisor for information retrieval and as an evaluation method for IR systems are reviewed. The role and potential of cognitive theories of user task-action in Information Retrieval and Human Computer Interaction are discussed. 0 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.

A Review of the Cognitive Information Retrieval Concept, Process and Techniques

Journal of Global Research in Computer Sciences, 2013

The word "cognitive" refers to the thought process toward awareness or knowledge. In terms of Cognitive Science, it provides bridge between information processing, conceptualization of the resources, perceptual skills and topics related to the cognitive psychology. By retrieving information that based on cognitive concepts, process and techniques one can represent the current user’s information need, their problem state and domain work or area of interest in the outline of structure and casualties. This poly-representational approach leads to cognitive process which is multitasking in the way of perception, attention, interpretation, understanding and remembrance of human behaviour interaction. With the help of implementation techniques of relevance feedback which validate and provide reliability metrics to calculate user behaviour using knowledge domain visualization, Training frameworks provide users how to proceed in searching and retrieving information

On Human Information Processing in Information Retrieval (Position Paper)

Experimental psychology, cognitive science or, more recently, cognitive neuroscience, is the main framework to place hu- man information processing under extensive empirical scru- tiny. The last decade has seen a surge of interest in the appli- cation of psychological measurements for evaluating increas- ingly complex human-technology interactions. While most welcome from the psychological perspective, we propose that the use of these methodologies should not rely only on the application of sophisticated measurement tools, but also on the application of contemporary knowledge on psychological phenomena and dynamics of human information processing. In addition, we argue that the latest developments in mul- timodal signals and data mining techniques offer a unique opportunity to extend psychological methodologies to large scale testing grounds. Thus, the application of psychological knowledge to information retrieval research will not only be beneficial for the latter, but for the former as well, inasmuch as information retrieval provides a real field of application for its hypotheses about human information processing.

Cognitive Perspectives of Information Retrieval Interaction: Elements of a Cognitive Ir Theory

Journal of Documentation, 1996

The objective of the paper is to amalgamate theories of text retrieval from various research traditions into a cognitive theory for information retrieval interaction. Set in a cognitive framework, the paper outlines the concept of polyrepresentation applied to both the user's cognitive space and the information space of IR systems. The concept seeks to represent the current user's information need, problem state, and domain work task or interest in a structure of causality. Further, it implies that we should apply different methods of representation and a variety of IR techniques of different cognitive and functional origin simultaneously to each semantic full-text entity in the information space. The cognitive differences imply that by applying cognitive overlaps of information objects, originating from different interpretations of such objects through time and by type, the degree of uncertainty inherent in IR is decreased. Polyrepresentation and the use of cognitive overlaps are associated with, but not identical to, data fusion in IR. By explicitly incorporating all the cognitive structures participating in the interactive communication processes during IR, the cognitive theory provides a comprehensive view of these processes. It encompasses the ad hoc theories of text retrieval and IR techniques hitherto developed in mainstream retrieval research. It has elements in common with van Rijsbergen and Lalmas' logical uncertainty theory [1] and may be regarded as compatible with that conception of IR. Epistemologically speaking, the theory views IR interaction as processes of cognition, potentially occurring in all the information processing components of IR, that may be applied, in particular, to the user in a situational context. The theory draws upon basic empirical results from information seeking investigations in the operational online environment, and from mainstream IR research on partial matching techniques and relevance feedback.

Model of Information Retrieval in the Context of Organizations

Pakistan Journal of Information Management and Libraries, 2018

An information retrieval model is presented as a result of a study of two different but integrated perspectives of Information Science. On the one hand, Information Science is considered from the point of view of Information Management, and on the other from the Information Science retrieval. The latter encompasses the point of view of some cognitivist authors who have created an information retrieval model and these have been exhaustively studied. This appraisal begins with the intention of finding realistic solutions to the problems in order that the information chain can flow unhindered and, thus, enable to achieve the objectives for which the information was generated.

The seventeen theoretical constructs of information searching and information retrieval

Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 2000

In this article, we identify, compare, and contrast theoretical constructs for the fields of information searching and information retrieval to emphasize the uniqueness of and synergy between the fields. Theoretical constructs are the foundational elements that underpin a field's core theories, models, assumptions, methodologies, and evaluation metrics. We provide a framework to compare and contrast the theoretical constructs in the fields of information searching and information retrieval using intellectual perspective and theoretical orientation. The intellectual perspectives are information searching, information retrieval, and cross-cutting; and the theoretical orientations are information, people, and technology. Using this framework, we identify 17 significant constructs in these fields contrasting the differences and comparing the similarities. We discuss the impact of the interplay among these constructs for moving research forward within both fields. Although there is tension between the fields due to contradictory constructs, an examination shows a trend toward convergence. We discuss the implications for future research within the information searching and information retrieval fields.

A theoretical discussion of the classic information retrieval theoretical concepts. [0157]

Munich University of Applied Science, Munich, 2008

Information retrieval is an interdisciplinary science of searching for information. It is based on computer science, mathematics, linguistics, statistics and physics. As any science it must provide some metrics for measuring how good its techniques are. In this report the author will investigate the standard effectiveness measures used in general, such as “precision”, “recall”, “relevance” and “fallout” and highlight the problems associated with them. Moreover, the author will discuss the notion of relevance and its importance for information retrieval evaluation concept. To demonstrate why modern retrieval systems return non-relevant documents along with relevant ones the information retrieval from databases is compared with information retrieval from document collections written in a natural language. The standard test collections such as Cranfield, TREC, GOV2, CLEF and NTCIR used for information retrieval research and evaluation are also discussed. In conclusion the author will show the disadvantages of the existing test collections and outline the implications for the future.

Information Seeking, Information Retrieval: Philosophical Points

Proceedings of the 2012 InSITE Conference, 2012

In this article the author argues the significance of Information retrieval (IR) against information seeking (IS). His argument is that for finding a theoretical basis information retrieval is much more effective and relevant than information seeking. In IS we either know what we want, therefore we ask for the place, quantity or quality of it. Or we do not know something exist; therefore, asking and seeking are useless. While in IR, we are aware of information and want to capture it. In fact it may be a kind of answer to the theory of "Information seeking; theory and practice" of John Budd, 2001.

Information retrieval theory and design based on a model of the user's concept relations

International ACM SIGIR Conference on Research and Development in Information Retrieval, 1980

Information retrieval theory and design based on a model of the user's concept relations* Matthew B. Koll 6.1 Information retrieval systems as models of human behaviour 6.1.1 Introduction Viewing information retrieval (IR) systems as models of h u m a n assessment of the similarity between requests and documents (SRD) t contributes to development of theory for IR and can aid in development of IR systems. This chapter reports the development and testing of a theory of IR based on this system-as-model (SAM) view ~;. Implications for IR research and development are then considered. The SAM theory of IR is an expansion of the present model used in IR research. That model, and its expansion into a theory of IR, are described in the two sections below §. 6.1.2 The traditional model in IR research The model under which most IR research takes place may be called the systemas-tool (SAT) model. Here the IR system itself is the focus of the research, its c o m p o n e n t s being studied in order to improve the system's usefulness. The traditional model of IR systems is represented by the B o o k s t e i n-Cooper model (Bookstein and Cooper, 1976). Figure 6.1(a) is based on that model. Bookstein and Cooper show their model to apply to a wide range o f l R systems, from sophisticated automatic systems to ordinary card catalogues. * This work is a contribution of the National Bureau of Standards and is not subject to copyright. t Owing to confusing definitions and usage of 'relevance', the term SRD (for Similarity between Request and Document) will be used here. SRD corresponds most closely to Swanson's (1977) definition of relevance and the general notion of aboutness (see Maron, 1977). SRD refers to the similarity between the subjects or contents of a document and request. The development of the SAM theory, as well as most of the work reported here, was conducted as part of a doctoral dissertation (Koll, 1979b). §~ The use of 'model' and "theory' here is based on Boring's continuum of models-theories (Boring, 1953). The point, on his continuum, where models become theories is where the constructs in the model are hoped to be real, and where the model-theory is thought of as an explanation of the phenomenon, not just a tool for predicting outcomes. 77

The Study of Information Retrieval

The meaning of the term information retrieval can be very broad. Just getting a credit card out of your wallet so that you can type in the card number is a form of information retrieval. An information retrieval is a system where the end users extract information from www. However, as an academic field of study information retrieval might be defined as Information retrieval (IR) is finding material (usually documents) of an unstructured nature (usually text) that satisfies an information need from within large collections (usually stored on computers).