Competency E
Introduction
According to Elastic, “Information retrieval (IR) is a process that facilitates the effective and efficient retrieval of relevant information from large collections of unstructured or semi-structured data” (n.d.). Furthermore, information retrieval systems aid in searching for, finding, and displaying information that aligns with a user’s specific search query or informational requirement (n.d.). In this modern era, we see these searches taking place in online library systems and Internet-based search engines whether it be Google, Yahoo, or Google Scholar. Hu et al. (1999) point out that the “desire for effective information access and sharing across organizational or geographical boundaries have made manual-based retrievals increasingly ineffective or obsolete, making IT-enabled IR become progressively a norm rather than an exception” (p. 125-126). Behnert & Lewandowski (2017) highlight that “users expect modern library information systems (LIS) ‘to look and function more like search engines’” (p. 2). The components associated with IR systems will now be discussed.
The design principles of IR systems can be viewed from different approaches including rational, cognitive engineering, and social perspectives. According to Sonnenwald (1992), “the rational or technical approach to IR system design views IR systems as technical systems that can be stated in quantitative mathematical form” (p. 310). The design model includes analysis, design, production, implementation, and operation. Furthermore, the cognitive engineering or cognitive systems engineering approach to designing IR systems concentrates on how individuals cognitively and physically engage with these systems (p. 311). It highlights the personal experiences of individual users with a system, taking into account factors such as learnability, ease of use, enjoyment, and usefulness. The social approach considers systems as elements within broader, intricate, and interconnected social systems, aiming to identify connections between systems and their social environments. This perspective incorporates sociotechnical theory, which suggests that design should align social and technical systems to enhance productivity (p. 311). One must remember that it boils down to the user. According to Hu et al. (1999), “an IR system should include an effective user interface through which users can interact with the system to complete their search task successfully” (p. 126). A design must be user-centered.
This brings us to a discussion of queries in IR systems. Macrometa describes a query as a request for information from a database, used to search for and retrieve data based on specific criteria (n.d.). Queries are typically formulated using a ‘query language.’ This language serves as a tool for users to instruct the IR system on what actions to perform and what they seek. The query itself is separate from the types of documents the user aims to find (Barve, n.d.). When considering words and phrases, it’s important to remember that what seems clear and understandable at first glance may not be as straightforward when entered into a search engine or database. Carpineto & Romano (2012) convey that the “relative ineffectiveness of information retrieval systems is largely caused by the inaccuracy with which a query formed by a few keywords models the actual user need” (p. 1). Kumaran & Allan also state that the caliber of queries in information retrieval (IR) systems directly influences the quality of the search outcomes obtained (p. 1838).
Zuva & Zuva (2012) confirms that “one of the challenges of modern information retrieval is to adequately evaluate Information Retrieval System (IRS) in order to estimate future performance in a specified application domain. Since there are many algorithms in literature the decision to select one for usage depends mostly on the evaluation of the systems’ performance in the domain” (p. 35). It is an ongoing process to improve each day IR. According to Saracevic (n.d), “evaluation means assessing performance or value of a system, process (technique, procedure . . . ), product, or policy. As such, evaluation is accepted as a critical necessity in science, technology, and many other areas, including social applications” (p. 138). Moreover when considering evaluation teams must consider how we can deliver valuable information to a potential user. Or, put in modern terms: how can we ensure users have effective access to information and can use it efficiently (p. 139)?
Evidence
My first artifact to prove my efficiency in competency E comes from INFO 202. It was an Alpha Prototype in Database DesignLinks to an external site.. I was responsible for working on the field names, values, and data structure as well as searching on sephora.com for these elements. I worked on rules sections 1,2,3, and 8, reviewed the data structure, worked on the database, and finalized the project. The purpose of this database was to house a collection where individuals with acne and acne-prone skin can search for acne-fighting products available at local Sephora stores. The collection provides a wide variety of acne treatments that cater to an individual’s specific needs and preferences, e.g. sensitive skin, oily skin, cruelty-free products, sulfate-free products, and serums. The user accessing the database will be able to search for products by various search fields, such as brand, size, formulation, and price, as well as refine results based on their search preferences and what type of product they are searching for. A typical usage scenario could be represented as a man in his 30s with combination skin searching for a scrub to reduce blemishes or a teenage girl with sensitive skin searching for a mask to fight off pimples that are also vegan and cruelty-free.
My second artifact came from INFO 202 involving vocabulary design basicsLinks to an external site.. I looked at different types of references. I had to analyze their overview and first look at the central concepts of the pieces. I had to put similar terms together, basing my decisions on the users and the context. I had to think in terms of the following questions. Is the word significant enough to be a descriptor? Is it a concept people actually will want to search for? What discriminations will your users want to make? Terms included words such as virtual reference services, electronic book technology, digital content, downloading software, and electronic books, sources of electronic book content, traditional reference services, academic libraries, creation of virtual libraries, and virtual schools. I then turned the concepts into candidate terms. I then had to decide on the best key terms for each concept group. I had to edit that list and create a final controlled vocabulary list. From there, I assigned particular descriptors to each of the resources that were selected.
My final artifact was from INFO 202 which introduced me to fields and valuesLinks to an external site.. It was a two-part project involving Socks and assigning particular I.D.’s to them. I picked out and analyzed ten socks by different values. Those values included brand, color, material, size, type, purpose, and country or region of origin. For brand and country, particular names were mentioned such as Nike, Adidas, United States, Japan, and unknown. For color, I focused on four including white, black, blue, and other. Materials were mentioned precisely for those users who might be allergic. Size was grouped by medium, large, and other. Purpose values included specifics such as comfort, dress, expression, fun, other, and training. Users should be able to understand what the socks should feel like. The type value included particulars like ankle, mid-calf, and other. Part two of the exercise was to revise and rename any fields and values that were thought to be necessary for changes. They were placed on an organized table in the document for easy viewing.
Conclusion
IR is certainly a major aspect of my professional career. Being able to show students how to access legitimate resources effectively will always be a primary objective and goal of mine. It is difficult to make the transition from a search engine type of world for students to a database type of environment. If I can continue to learn the ins and outs through more literature and possibly more classes in database design, I can get there. I enjoyed taking the INFO 246 class with the development of keeping records of patron personnel.
References
Barve, S. (n.d.). Information storage and retrieval. Querying of the Information Retrieval System – Information Storage and Retrieval. https://ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in/lisp7/chapter/querying-of-the-information-retrieval-system/
Behnert, C., & Lewandowski, D. (2017). A framework for designing retrieval effectiveness studies of library information systems using human relevance assessments. Journal of Documentation, 73(3), 509–527. https://doi.org/10.1108/jd-08-2016-0099
Carpineto, C., & Romano, G. (2012). A survey of automatic query expansion in Information Retrieval. ACM Computing Surveys, 44(1), 1–50. https://doi.org/10.1145/2071389.2071390
Hu, P. J.-H., Ma, P.-C., & Chau, P. Y. K. (1999). Evaluation of user interface designs for information retrieval systems: A computer-based experiment. Decision Support Systems, 27(1–2), 125–143. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0167-9236(99)00040-8
Kumaran, G., & Allan, J. (2008). Adapting information retrieval systems to user queries. Information Processing & Management, 44(6), 1838–1862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ipm.2007.12.006Links to an external site.
Saracevic, T. (1995, July). Evaluation of evaluation in information retrieval. In Proceedings of the 18th annual international ACM SIGIR conference on Research and development in information retrieval (pp. 138-146).
Sonnenwald, D. H. (1992). Developing a theory to guide the process of designing Information Retrieval Systems. Proceedings of the 15th Annual International ACM SIGIR Conference on Research and Development in Information Retrieval – SIGIR ’92, 310–317. https://doi.org/10.1145/133160.133213
What are queries?. Macrometa. (n.d.). https://www.macrometa.com/articles/what-are-queries
What is information retrieval?: A comprehensive information retrieval (IR) guide. Elastic. (n.d.). https://www.elastic.co/what-is/information-retrieval