Extending Retrieval with Stepping Stones and Pathways

每天有数百万信息检索系统的用户寻找有用的项目，但许多人对收到的结果感到沮丧。通常，当查询被分割为覆盖信息需求的不同但相关方面的部分时，可以找到更好的结果。有时需要一个小的（2-3）文档集作为答案，而不是一个单一的文档。本项目研究的是用户查询的另一种解释和结果的呈现。只要用户对馆藏的理解与实际馆藏内容之间存在不匹配，它就有可能改进检索结果。一种概率检索方案被采用：基于信念网络的框架，其可以联合收割机组合多个证据源;以及在文档、聚类（组）和关系（例如，在这种解释中的查询结果是表示主题的文档组的网络，每个组与网络中部分回答用户的信息需求的其它组相关并连接。新的和更有效的表示和技术帮助用户可视化这些结果。用户是检索过程的一部分，可以操纵网络内容。该系统能够以一种远远超出传统的相关反馈的方式对用户的需要提供更深入的支持，该项目将使数十名学生（包括少数民族和代表人数不足的群体的学生）参与信息检索研究，从而产生若干世界各地都可查阅的电子论文和学位论文，并改进搜索方法。由于这项研究，科学家和公众应该能够更容易地搜索复杂问题的答案。开发的软件和汇编将提供给其他研究人员。研究结果将在讲习班和会议上以及与美国在线等公司分享，并在项目网站（http：//fox.cs.vt.edu/SSP）上公布。

Millions of users of information retrieval systems each day seek useful items, but many are frustrated with the results received. Often, better results can be found when a query is split into parts that cover different but connected aspects of the information need. Sometimes a small set of (2-3) documents is needed as an answer instead of a single document.This project researches an alternative interpretation of user queries and presentation of the results. It has the potential to improve retrieval results whenever there is a mismatch between a user's understanding of the collection and the actual collection content. A probabilistic retrieval scheme is employed with: a framework based on belief networks which can combine multiple sources of evidence; and user feedback at document, cluster (group), and relationship (e.g., citation or hypertext link) levels.Query results in this interpretation are networks of document groups representing topics, each group relating and connected to other groups in the network that partially answer the user's information need. New and more effective representations and techniques help users visualize these results. The user is part of the retrieval process, and can manipulate the network of content. The system can provide deeper support of the user's need, in a way that goes well beyond traditional relevance feedback.This project will involve scores of students (including those in minority and under-represented groups) in information retrieval studies, leading to several world-accessible electronic theses and dissertations, and improved search methods. Because of this research, scientists and the public in general should be able to more easily search for answers to complex questions. Software and collections developed will be available to other researchers. Results will be shared at workshops and conferences and with companies such as AOL, and made available at the project's Web site (http://fox.cs.vt.edu/SSP/).