Abstract

We present an analysis of information retrieval as an information-seeking activity, supporting people's interactions with text. This analysis suggests that some assumptions underlying the standard model of information retrieval are inappropriate, and we suggest alternative assumptions and discuss their implications for information retrieval system design. It is proposed that information retrieval is most properly considered as information-seeking behavior, that the central process of information retrieval is user interaction with text, and that the user is the central component of the information retrieval system. Possible ways to incorporate this view in the design of information retrieval systems are discussed.

Citations

158	Information Retrieval Interaction - Ingwersen - 1992
126	Inside the search process: Information seeking from the user’s perspective - Kuhlthau - 1991
107	Anomalous states of knowledge as a basis for information retrieval - Belkin - 1980
94	I 3 R : A new approach to the design of document retrieval system - Croft, Thompson - 1987
82	A behavioural approach to information retrieval system design - Ellis - 1989
79	Where should the person stop and the information search interface start - Bates - 1990
77	Searching for information in a hypertext medical handbook - Frisse
64	Braque: design of an interface to support user interaction - Belkin, Marchetti, et al. - 1993
59	The structures of the life-world - Schutz, Luckman - 1989
40	Information retrieval through man-machine dialogue - Oddy - 1977
17	User modeling in intelligent information retrieval - Brajnik, Guida, et al. - 1987
13	Determining the functionality and features of a intelligent interface to an information retrieval system - Belkin, Marchetti - 1990
13	Distributed expert problem treatment as a means for information system analysis and design - Belkin - 1983
13	Taking account of user tasks, goals and behavior for the design of online public access catalogs - Belkin, Chang, et al. - 1990
11	The User Modelling Function of an Intelligent Interface for Document Retrieval Systems - Daniels - 1986
9	Ask for Information Retrieval: Parts 1 & 2 - Belkin, Oddy, et al.
9	Evaluating the impact of an online library catalogue on subject searching behaviour at the catalogue and at the shelves - Hancock-Beaulieu - 1990
6	The problematic situation as a basic concept of information science in the framework of the social sciences - a reply to - Wersig - 1979
3	Scripts for Information Seeking Strategies. Paper presented at - Belkin, Cool, et al. - 1993
3	An overview of sense-making: concepts, methods and results to date. Paper presented at - Dervin - 1983
1	The design of brwosing and berrypicking techniques for the online search interface - Bates - 1989
1	The concept of information seeking strategies and its use in the design of information retrieval systems. Paper presented at the AAAI Spring Symposium on Case-Based Reasoning and Information Retireval - Belkin - 1993