Exploratory search
Encyclopedia
Exploratory search is a specialization of information exploration which represents the activities carried out by searchers who are either:[1]
Consequently, exploratory search covers a broader class of activities than typical information retrieval
, such as investigating, evaluating, comparing, and synthesizing, where new information is sought in a defined conceptual area; exploratory data analysis
is another example of an information exploration activity. Typically, therefore, such users generally combine querying and browsing strategies to foster learning and investigation.
and information seeking
but has become more concerned with alternatives to the kind of search that has received the majority of focus (returning the most relevant documents to a Google
-like keyword search). The research is motivated by questions like "what if the user doesn't know which keywords to use?" or "what if the user isn't looking for a single answer?" Consequently, research has begin to focus on defining the broader set of information behaviors in order to learn about the situations when a user is, or feels, limited by only having the ability to perform a keyword search.
In the last few years, a series of workshops have been held at various related and key events. In 2005, the Exploratory Search Interfaces workshop focused on beginning to define some of the key challenges in the field. Since then a series of other workshops have been held at related conferences: Evaluating Exploratory Search at SIGIR06 and Exploratory Search and HCI at CHI07 (in order to meet with the experts in human–computer interaction
).
In March 2008, an Information Processing and Management special issue[2] has focused particularly on the challenges of evaluating exploratory search, given the reduced assumptions that can be made about scenarios of use.
In June 2008, the National Science Foundation
sponsored an invitational workshop to identify a research agenda for exploratory search and similar fields for the coming years.
community focusing on typical keyword search scenarios, one challenge for exploratory search is to further understand the scenarios of use for when keyword search is not sufficient. An example scenario, often used to motivate the research by mSpace states: if a user does not know much about classical music, how should they even begin to find a piece that they might like.
which presents diverse category-style options to the user, so that they can choose from a list instead of guess a possible keyword query.
Many of the interactive forms of search, including faceted browser
s, are being considered for their support of exploratory search conditions.
Computational cognitive models of exploratory search have been developed to capture the cognitive complexities involved in exploratory search. Model-based dynamic presentation of information cues are proposed to facilitate exploratory search performance.
.
. The process model assumes that user-generated information cues, such as social tags, can act as navigational cues that facilitate exploration of information that others have found and shared with other users on a social information system (such as social bookmarking
system). These models provided extension to existing process model of information search that characterizes information-seeking behavior in traditional fact-retrievals using search engines.
and human–computer interaction
, are:
- a) unfamiliar with the domain of their goal (ie need to learn about the topic in order to understand how to achieve their goal)
- b) unsure about the ways to achieve their goals (either the technology or the process)
- c) or even unsure about their goals in the first place.
Consequently, exploratory search covers a broader class of activities than typical information retrieval
Information retrieval
Information retrieval is the area of study concerned with searching for documents, for information within documents, and for metadata about documents, as well as that of searching structured storage, relational databases, and the World Wide Web...
, such as investigating, evaluating, comparing, and synthesizing, where new information is sought in a defined conceptual area; exploratory data analysis
Exploratory data analysis
In statistics, exploratory data analysis is an approach to analysing data sets to summarize their main characteristics in easy-to-understand form, often with visual graphs, without using a statistical model or having formulated a hypothesis...
is another example of an information exploration activity. Typically, therefore, such users generally combine querying and browsing strategies to foster learning and investigation.
History
Exploratory search is a topic that has grown from the fields of information retrievalInformation retrieval
Information retrieval is the area of study concerned with searching for documents, for information within documents, and for metadata about documents, as well as that of searching structured storage, relational databases, and the World Wide Web...
and information seeking
Information seeking
Information seeking is the process or activity of attempting to obtain information in both human and technological contexts. Information seeking is related to, but yet different from, information retrieval .- Information Retrieval :...
but has become more concerned with alternatives to the kind of search that has received the majority of focus (returning the most relevant documents to a Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
-like keyword search). The research is motivated by questions like "what if the user doesn't know which keywords to use?" or "what if the user isn't looking for a single answer?" Consequently, research has begin to focus on defining the broader set of information behaviors in order to learn about the situations when a user is, or feels, limited by only having the ability to perform a keyword search.
In the last few years, a series of workshops have been held at various related and key events. In 2005, the Exploratory Search Interfaces workshop focused on beginning to define some of the key challenges in the field. Since then a series of other workshops have been held at related conferences: Evaluating Exploratory Search at SIGIR06 and Exploratory Search and HCI at CHI07 (in order to meet with the experts in human–computer interaction
Human–computer interaction
Human–computer Interaction is the study, planning, and design of the interaction between people and computers. It is often regarded as the intersection of computer science, behavioral sciences, design and several other fields of study...
).
In March 2008, an Information Processing and Management special issue
In June 2008, the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
sponsored an invitational workshop to identify a research agenda for exploratory search and similar fields for the coming years.
Important scenarios
With the majority of research in the information retrievalInformation retrieval
Information retrieval is the area of study concerned with searching for documents, for information within documents, and for metadata about documents, as well as that of searching structured storage, relational databases, and the World Wide Web...
community focusing on typical keyword search scenarios, one challenge for exploratory search is to further understand the scenarios of use for when keyword search is not sufficient. An example scenario, often used to motivate the research by mSpace states: if a user does not know much about classical music, how should they even begin to find a piece that they might like.
Designing new interfaces
With one of the motivations being to support users when keyword search is not enough, some research has focused on identifying alternative user interfaces and interaction models that support the user in different ways. An example is faceted searchFaceted classification
A faceted classification system allows the assignment of multiple classifications to an object, enabling the classifications to be ordered in multiple ways, rather than in a single, predetermined, taxonomic order. A facet comprises "clearly defined, mutually exclusive, and collectively exhaustive...
which presents diverse category-style options to the user, so that they can choose from a list instead of guess a possible keyword query.
Many of the interactive forms of search, including faceted browser
Faceted browser
Faceted search, also called faceted navigation or faceted browsing, is a technique for accessing information organized according to a faceted classification system, allowing users to explore a collection of information by applying multiple filters...
s, are being considered for their support of exploratory search conditions.
Computational cognitive models of exploratory search have been developed to capture the cognitive complexities involved in exploratory search. Model-based dynamic presentation of information cues are proposed to facilitate exploratory search performance.
Evaluating interfaces
As the tasks and goals involved with exploratory search are largely undefined or unpredictable, it is very hard to evaluate systems with the measures often used in information retrieval. Accuracy was typically used to show that a user had found a correct answer, but when the user is trying to summarize a domain of information, the correct answer is near impossible to identify, if not entirely subjective (for example: possible hotels to stay in Paris). In exploration, it is also arguable that spending more time (where time efficiency is typically desirable) researching a topic shows that a system provides increased support for investigation. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, giving study participants a well specified task could immediately prevent them from exhibiting exploratory behavior.Models of exploratory search behavior
There has been recent attempts to develop process model of exploratory search behavior, especially in social information system (e.g., see models of collaborative taggingModels of collaborative tagging
Many have argued that social tagging or collaborative tagging systems can provide navigational cues or “way-finders” for other users to explore information. The notion is that, given that social tags are labels that users create to represent topics extracted from Web documents, interpretation of...
.
. The process model assumes that user-generated information cues, such as social tags, can act as navigational cues that facilitate exploration of information that others have found and shared with other users on a social information system (such as social bookmarking
Social bookmarking
Social bookmarking is a method for Internet users to organize, store, manage and search for bookmarks of resources online. Unlike file sharing, the resources themselves aren't shared, merely bookmarks that reference them....
system). These models provided extension to existing process model of information search that characterizes information-seeking behavior in traditional fact-retrievals using search engines.
Major figures
Key figures, including experts from both information seekingInformation seeking
Information seeking is the process or activity of attempting to obtain information in both human and technological contexts. Information seeking is related to, but yet different from, information retrieval .- Information Retrieval :...
and human–computer interaction
Human–computer interaction
Human–computer Interaction is the study, planning, and design of the interaction between people and computers. It is often regarded as the intersection of computer science, behavioral sciences, design and several other fields of study...
, are: