Introduction to Information Retrieval

A set of 30 practice flashcards covering core concepts from the Information Retrieval lecture notes.

What does IRS stand for in the context of Information Retrieval?

Information Retrieval System.

What is the main goal of an Information Retrieval System?

To retrieve the right documents or information to satisfy an information need and reduce information overload.

Name the two broad categories of Information Retrieval.

In-house Information Retrieval (Libraries) and Online Information Retrieval.

What is an example of an in-house IRS?

The library catalogue.

What is a library catalogue?

A register containing bibliographic information (authors, titles, publishers, etc.) of library materials.

What is a union catalogue?

A catalogue of multiple libraries sharing access; allows referrals among libraries.

Which non-library professions are mentioned as having catalogues?

Carpenters, seamstresses/tailors, and barbers.

What are the objectives of a catalogue?

To enable finding a book by author, title, or subject; to show holdings by author/subject/literature.

How can a catalogue assist in choosing a book?

By edition and by character.

What is OPAC?

Online Public Access Catalogue—an online catalogue to search and check availability.

What are Online Information Retrieval Systems (Online IRS)?

Systems designed to provide access to remote databases; include Google and other search engines.

What is a key characteristic of a good online IRS?

Prompt dissemination of information.

What is another important feature of a good online IRS?

Filtering information to present the right amount at the right time.

How can information be searched in online databases?

By typing a word, phrase, or sentence into a search engine.

What is a search term?

The word/phrase/sentence you type in the search engine.

What tools can refine search results?

Boolean operators, truncation, and wild characters.

What are Boolean Operators?

AND, OR, NOT (and sometimes AND NOT) used to combine, include, or exclude keywords.

What does the AND operator do?

Requires both terms to be present; narrows results.

Give an example of using AND.

stock market AND trading.

What does the OR operator do?

Broadens the search to include documents containing either term or both.

Give an example of using OR.

ecology OR pollution.

What does NOT/AND NOT do in a search?

Excludes documents containing the term after NOT; narrows results.

What is a caution when using NOT?

It can be too exclusive and exclude good records.

Give an example of NOT.

Social media NOT Facebook.

What is the purpose of using parentheses in search queries?

To group terms and ensure operators are applied in the desired order; evaluate inside parentheses first.

Give an example using parentheses.

(smoking or tobacco) and cancer.

How can you use NOT to exclude a concept?

Example: cloning NOT sheep.

What is document-type searching?

Narrowing results by document format (pdf, ppt, jpeg, etc.).

Provide an example of a document-type search.

Covid-19/pdf.

What are wild characters and what do they do?

Symbols like ? and * used for truncation and wildcard matching.