ISR10
Scientific Report No. ISR-10 Information Storage and Retrieval
Search Request Formulation
chapter
Gerard Salton
Harvard University
Gerard Salton
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role of the query modifier is specifically identified with automatic
query optimization.
In evaluating the performance of[OCRerr]a document retrieval system,
one must attempt to isolate the effect of the critical variables
which determine system behavior. The formalization of the notion of
request optimality leads, then, to the ability to measure accurately
the behavior of the indexing function under a given query-document
matching relation, since performance variations due to the malformation
of a search request can be eliminated. In this context, then,
optimization can be a powerful evaluation tool for testing index
language devices.
2. Request Formulation
The process of search request formulation in a document
retrieval system is a complex one and[OCRerr]depends on particular attributes
of the requestor, such as his acquaintance with the reference
collection, his knowledge of the indexing and searching functions of
the system, his familiarity with `the topic matter being searched, his
personal preferences as to vocabulary, style, etc. In effect, each
user must must make a statistical decision based on his individual
experience as to what formal request &tatement is most likely to
produce results useful to him. It can be assumed, therefore, that
the a priori likelihood that a user!s search request actually
satisfies his information needs varies over a wide range for a
typical user population. For example, some users will be able to