Information retrieval
Information retrieval is defined as "a branch of computer or library science relating to the storage, locating, searching, and selecting, upon demand, relevant data on a given subject."[1] As noted by Carl Sagan, "human beings have, in the most recent few tenths of a percent of our existence, invented not only extra-genetic but also extrasomatic knowledge: information stored outside our bodies, of which writing is the most notable example."[2] The benefits of enhancing personal knowledge with retrieval of extrasomatic knowledge has been shown in a controlled comparison with rote memory.[3]
Classification
Information retrieval can be divided into information discovery, information recovery, and information awareness.[4]
Information discovery
Information discovery is searching for information that the searcher has not seen before and the searcher does not know for sure that the information exists. Information discovery includes searching in order to answer a question at hand, or searching for a topic without a specific question in order to improve knowledge of a topic.
Information recovery
Information recovery is searching for information that the searcher has seen before and knows to exist.
Information awareness
Information awareness has also been described as "'systematic serendipity' - an organized process of information discovery of that which he [the searcher] did not know existed".[4] Examples of this prior to the Internet include reading print and online periodicals. With the Internet, new methods include email newsletters, email alerts, and RSS feeds.
Factors associated with successful retrieval
Characteristics of how the information is stored
Display of information
Information that is structured was found to be more effective in a controlled study.[2] In addition, the structure should be layered with a summary of the content being the first layer that the readers sees.[5] This allows the reader to take only an overview, or choose more detail.
Characteristics of the searcher
In healthcare, searchers are more likely to be successful if their answer is answer before searching, they have experience with the system they are searching, and they have a high spatial visualization score.[6]
References
- ↑ National Library of Medicine. Information Storage and Retrieval. Retrieved on 2007-12-12.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Sagan, Carl. Dragons of Eden. [New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-34629-7.
- ↑ de Bliek R, Friedman CP, Wildemuth BM, Martz JM, Twarog RG, File D (1994). "Information retrieved from a database and the augmentation of personal knowledge". J Am Med Inform Assoc 1 (4): 328–38. PMID 7719819. [e]
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Garfield, E. “ISI Eases Scientists’ Information Problems: Provides Convenient Orderly Access to Literature,” Karger Gazette No. 13, pg. 2 (March 1966). Reprinted as “The Who and Why of ISI,” Current Contents No. 13, pages 5-6 (March 5, 1969), which was reprinted in Essays of an Information Scientist, Volume 1: ISI Press, pages 33-37 (1977). http://www.garfield.library.upenn.edu/essays/V1p033y1962-73.pdf
- ↑ Writing Inverted Pyramids in Cyberspace (Alertbox). Retrieved on 2007-12-12.
- ↑ Hersh WR, Crabtree MK, Hickam DH, et al (2002). "Factors associated with success in searching MEDLINE and applying evidence to answer clinical questions". J Am Med Inform Assoc 9 (3): 283–93. PMID 11971889. [e]