Analysis of the information searching process via information retrieval systems

Tanja Peršin (2012) Analysis of the information searching process via information retrieval systems. MSc thesis.

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Abstract

In the modern inormation society, information retrieval presents an important activity in which a certain amount of interest and dedication is required from individuals. Interes is determined by deeper needs and questions, where the answers to the latter provide a fulfillment of the lack of knowledge. Information thus becomes the connective tissue in understanding the world and the acquirement of information an obligatory activity. Information search refers to the process in which individuals engage when they want to acces information, which is at a given moment unknown. For this purpose, they engage in the activity of information retrieval, which defines our interaction with different information retrieval systems. Information retrieval systems present the access channel between the searcher, the information and the holder of the information. The development if the ICT brought with it the transition of information retrieval systems, from classical libraries, personal or other analogue forms to the digital form. With this transition rose the importance of user interfaces as the carriers of interaction between to different entities – the digital/computer and the emotional/human entity. This dissertation reviews the elements that are incorporated in the interaction between these two entities durign the information search process. The analysis of the information search process was examined through the study of existing literature, the evaluation of current research and on the basis of a conducted research, which examined the information search process of the Slovenian public. The findings of the latter are, that the users conduct each information search process as a one time and concluded process, which will not be followed by similar searches, that there are five major causes of failure in information search according to users, along with the finding of inadequate use of the functions that assist the information search process/information retireval. Users are keen to use the basic functions, such as the strategy of search phrase entry and review of the results. They are not familiar with different information retrieval systems nor the ways in which information is represented and unwilling or unable to use different functions of the search interfaces. Help mechanisms are considered as the basic tool for familiarizing onself with the system. For the purpose of understanding the information search process, the basic cognitivne and interacion phases of this process are presented along with the optimum system support.

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