1. © Tefko Saracevic1 All you wanted to know … Advanced searching

2. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 2 Definitions Advanced (Encarta) More highly developed … at a higher stage of development or progress than other similar people or things Advanced searching that about sums it up it is searching at a higher level of complexity without which search goals cannot be achieved

3. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 3 Definition Heuristic (Encarta) problem solving by trial and error a method of solving a problem for which no formula exists, based on informal methods or experience, and employing a form of trial and error (iteration) using or arrived at by a process of trial and error rather than set rules a rule of thumb commonsense rules indented to increase the probability of solving some problem

4. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 4 Advanced searching is a HEURISTIC process It means that searching is a trial & error process & an iterative process It means that searcher can modify a search in response to results or user It is a base for search progression toward more effective results And it is a behind advanced search strategy and tactics

5. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 5 Goals of advanced searching –achieve higher levels of effectiveness getting more relevant, missing more irrelevant stuff – and at higher level of efficiency saving on overall time, cost, effort –center search toward answers & resources most likely to be effective also: focus unfocused searches & get ideas how to proceed –use all available system features for goals –act as an professional (extreme) searcher

6. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 6 In fact Any & all vendors & search engines have advanced search features –most studies show that users use them rarely, if at all In principle most are the same But in application they differ from vendor to vendor, engine to engine – sometimes greatly –need to be learned individually. What a bummer! –cannot be taken that what & how works in one works elsewhere – even though similarities are there

7. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 7 Levels of advanced searching Advanced searching possible at several levels –strategic using different approaches to fit circumstances or context independent of but adapted to a system used –tactical using system features to the hilt to achieve given objectives but as said, features may & do differ from system to system

8. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 8 Reminder Search strategy (big picture): –overall approach to searching of a question decisions on search resource(s), content & format variations in these as a search progresses Search tactics (action choices) (small picture): –choices & variations in search statements, query terms, connectors, attributes … using capabilities of a system to the hilt to achieve desired results

9. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 9 The entire approach to a search – selection of –files and sources to use –approaches in proceeding to search & combining search terms operators to use fields to search –formats for viewing results –alternative actions if search yields too much too little –problem-solving heuristics A search strategy is

10. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 10 A query - command line entered into a system in order to retrieve relevant information –terms, operators & attributes as allowed by a given system –vocabulary & syntax used in conjunction with connectors &/or limiters to search a system Again: depends on a system how it is done –for example, a search statement in DIALOG might be: b 47; ss (garbanzo? or chickpeas) and (hum?us or humus) –how would you do that in ? Search tactics is

11. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 11 Some major strategies Briefsearch –also sometimes called meatball search or quick & dirty search Building block search Citation pearl growing search

12. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 12 Takes little planning & is fast –searcher gets on to the system quickly, & enters terms using default (or simple Boolean) operators –only a few terms are used –there is no or little reiteration & limited interaction between searcher & system Can also be used for verification purposes Results can be examined for relevance feedback Not recommended for comprehensive searches Widely used by users generally Briefsearch

13. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 13 Commonly used search strategy –start small & then build upon results identification: each important concept or facet of a search is identified elaboration: for each facet terms are identified combination: search starts with one or just a few facets; as it progresses additional facets are connected using appropriate Boolean operators &/or attributes iteration: as a search proceeds terms to facets may be added, new facets, even subfacets, created & combined You build heuristically & modify the query as you go long adding, changing facets Building block strategy

14. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 14 Going about building blocks Facet 1 REGULATION FCC regulation market structures regulated industries Facet 2 TECHNOLOGY technology technical impact innovation technological change Facet 3 TELECOMMU- NICATION communication satellite microwave telephone cellular phone mobile radio AND OR

15. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 15 Getting higher recall Building block (or multiple facet) searching assume movement from lower to higher recall – getting more stuff that is relevant, but precision may be lowered

16. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 16 Another common strategy It means what the name implies: you start with a nugget & grow upon it Starts with a few records of high relevance Aims for more recall Citation pearl growing

17. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 17 How to… citation pearl growing Bibliographic & other information is obtained for a relevant (model) document(s) after a Briefsearch –user is often the source of the model document(s) Terms (pearls) are selected from the documents to build facets Search proceeds iteratively with examination of new relevant documents to enlarge or modify facets –use synonyms and Boolean ‘or’ to create more facets –preserve sets for additional interaction This strategy works best if user is present or frequently consulted about results

18. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 18 When is citation pearl growing good to use? When word lists or thesauri are not available When there isn’t a large recall after doing a briefsearch When a client has one or two good articles and wants to find more like them When a topic is new and no descriptors are established to represent the concept

19. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 19 Advanced searching on the web Needs to be adapted to differences –coverage not specified; vastly different from one source, engine to another –no controlled vocabulary –output ranked by unknown methods & criteria for “relevance” –building blocks may be indicated by “similar pages” or “more from this site” or some such –some provide clusters to narrow searches –features, capabilities, specifics differ

20. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 20 A few web search guides of many Advanced web searching Greg NotesAdvanced web searching Finding information on the web U of California, BerkeleyFinding information on the web Googleguide advanced operators Nancy BlachmanGoogleguide advanced operators Four NETS for better searching Bernie DodgeFour NETS for better searching Web search tutorial SearchenginezWeb search tutorial How to choose a search engine or directory SUNY at AlbanyHow to choose a search engine or directory Search the web more efficiently Web Design in New YorkSearch the web more efficiently Finding information: search engines Phil BradleyFinding information: search engines

21. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 21 Beware: search engines are not only about search Yes, search is (still) their core, but they are in many other businesses built upon search & these affect what & how of searching for us –they are corporations, commercial entities have to make money, mostly by ads & placements –but provide many other services selling, licensing software email, messenger add-on utilities – like your desktop search functions, toolbars –many of the additional stuff is provided free, but there is no such thing as free lunch basically they are about how search engines can get us to continue to use their product

22. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 22 In other words Buyers beware! Searchers be aware!

23. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 23 A few search sources for the fun of it Shakespeare & Internet Search Tools & ResourcesShakespeare & Internet Search Tools & Resources Picsearch picture searchingPicsearch US government official web portal “Whatever you want or need from the U.S. government”US government official web portal Special Search Engines Leiden U, Netherlands, probably the longest page on the web – a bit out of dateSpecial Search Engines Yahooligans! the web guide for kidsYahooligans! and a study: Bilal, D. (2000). Children's use of the Yahooligans! Web search engine. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 51 (7), 646-665 [available at RUL]

24. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 24 Role & importance of interaction in searching “At a fundamental level, information retrieval is inherently interactive.” “This becomes apparent as one considers that the process revolves around a series of activities that an information searcher engages in with an information environment.” Savage-Knepshield, P. A. & Belkin, N. J. (1999).

25. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 25 Interaction: key to effective searching Interaction between –user and searcher –searcher & information system –user & searcher with information objects –searcher with support materials (thesauri, codes, etc.) – user & searcher with environment –user & searcher with valuation of results All play a part in retrieving satisfying results Iteration is a result of interaction

26. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 26 Interactive process User task question use Context User task question use Context Query Search Sources Iteration Evaluatio n Searcher

27. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 27 Ask yourself some questions What strategies & tactics have I developed for effective searching? What heuristics?

28. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 28 For a question ask yourself more questions What do I do first? What files/systems should I use? Should I start broad or narrow? What will my search statement be? How much material do I or user need? What format do I or user want for results? How will I modify & adjust results?

29. Principles of Searching © Tefko Saracevic 29 Happy advanced