Competency V

design, query, and evaluate information retrieval systems;

Introduction

For the purposes of this competency, I will be discussing information retrieval systems in

professional settings. I will be proving that I have the competency to design, query and evaluate

information retrieval systems.

Merriam-Webster defines information retrieval as the techniques of storing and

recovering and often disseminating recorded data especially through the use of a computerized

system. An information retrieval system is an organizational framework designed with specific

findability goals in mind. Some examples of information retrieval systems include the Online

Public Access Catalog (OPAC) and Web search engines like Google.

A good Information retrieval system is designed to be easy to use and query. Organizing

information can become highly complex and an information retrieval system will combat that by

organizing commonalities and connections between the data collection.

A poorly designed information retrieval system is like a big claw vending machine. It

isnt precise or intelligently designed. The user does a visual scan of the stuffed pigs, plush

baseballs and teddy bears. She decides that she wants the stuffed pig, pops in her quarters and

waits for the big claw to rise and position itself. There are limited options for the direction of the

claw. The user has ten seconds to move the claw and smack that big red button to drop the claw

and hope it grabs the stuffed pig of her dreams. But, the claw grabs the one-eyed teddy bear

instead, or more likely, nothing at all.

 Since its not ideal for information retrieval systems to give us a bunch of results that

arent relevant or what the user really wants. In order to avoid this, an information retrieval

system is designed with purpose and vision. The design of the information retrieval system and

the ability of the searcher to understand the way to query using it, are equally as important.

As more and more of human knowledge (and ignorance) is available on the Web and

through other media, ways of representing it are changing. Retrieval depends on two

things: the ability of the searcher to construct an incisive query and the ability of the

designer to incorporate features that will result in the query retrieving documents with the

desired attributes. (Weedman, 2008)

The first step in designing an information retrieval system is to have a need for one.

Before the designer gets to work, she has to have a purpose or problem for the information

retrieval system. Once the purpose or problem is decided upon, the designer can start putting

together the goals, data and structure for the system. The decisions about the information

retrieval system are corresponding to the material or data that is going to make up the collection

and a query method is designed into the system.

This leads into the importance of understanding the query methods used in an

information retrieval system. In order for the user to find the information she needs, the user has

to understand the query methods available in the information retrieval system. A common query

method used in public libraries is Boolean. The user can put search parameters on their search

with the use of AND, OR and NOT. Another example is Gmail. It has an information retrieval

system that allows alternate queries of an inbox if the user is looking for a particular email(s).
Twitter is probably one of the best known social media networks that uses an information

retrieval system with hashtagging to allow the conglomeration of similar posts.

As an information professional, we will evaluate the information retrieval systems that

we design or use. Evaluation is generally based on the information retrieval systems ability to be

relevant.

The two most frequently used measures of information system performance are based on

this concept of relevance. One is recall-how close the system gets to retrieving all of the

relevant documents. The other is precision-how close it gets to retrieving only the

relevant documents. (Weedman, 2008)

Its important for an information professional to have the ability to evaluate the information

retrieval system they are using. For example, a public librarian should be able to evaluate how

their catalog works best in order to provide the patron with the most relevant information.

Artifact I

For the first piece of evidence to prove this competency, I am submitting a group

assignment from Professor Tuckers Information Retrieval course. The assignment lays out the

design, purpose, rules, structure and evaluation of a database. It is a database that we designed

for users to find information on nutritional values of certain foods in order to promote an easy

way to make health conscious decisions about food

My role in this group was varied. First I created a Wikispace for the group to collaborate

on and assisted in organizing the roles of the members in the group. I set up elluminate meetings
and often led them or took care of the technical parts of collaboration. In addition, I collaborated

in the ideas, writing and final product for the assignment.

In this assignment we designed, built and evaluated an information retrieval system using

DB Textworks for practice. This evidence shows that I am able to design, search and evaluate

information retrieval systems. I will be able to apply this knowledge to professional work in the

information field.

If I were to produce this evidence today I would like to try a modern database creation

tool with visual modeling, such as Vertebelo, a web-based database creation tool.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BW9O03gvavJw_INpLt2ZPR7LyMbSdWdkgk6_Qn-tH1

A/edit?usp=sharing

Artifact II

For my second piece of evidence I am submitting a Web of Science search exercise done

for Professor Garricks Online Searching course. In this assignment, I was tasked with learning

to navigate the Web of Science, a scientific citation indexing resource.

In the search exercise I was presented with the opportunity to understand the structure of

the Web of Science database by finding the works produced by an author and subsequently the

works that cited that particular work, and the statistics surrounding both of their most cited

articles. I was also able to analyze the results in terms of their use over the years.

I came out of the exercise with an ability to find information with the appropriate query

methods and will be able to use the database myself or help others with research. The main

themes of this query assignment are related to content and language used in searching and

syntax.
 This evidence contributes to my meeting the competency of having the ability to learn

and search within different information retrieval systems.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xCCe3fkQhHQP4Tph03MPOjiiGehF-jHtmrZx9cA7INs/e
dit?usp=sharing

Artifact III

For my third piece of evidence I am submitting a presentation that I created for Professor

Garricks Online Searching Course. The presentation is meant to show an understanding of the

design of databases, how to use search language and syntax, as well as searching effectively. The

target audience is middle and/or high school students and the goal is to teach the students how to

use boolean operators and why they are important.

This evidence shows my understanding and ability to teach evaluation, query and syntax

concepts for an information retrieval system, thereby further proving my competency in this

subject.

I recently created this presentation and while Im happy with the results, I would have

used a different method for my presentation slides. I found that the scrolling through the Google

Doc pages could be distracting for the students. I would use a tool similar to Powerpoint instead

when I am casting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8ZQ1lZLef4&feature=youtu.be

Conclusion

In conclusion, I have submitted three pieces of evidence that prove I can competently

design, query, and evaluate information retrieval systems. As an information professional I

will be able to use information retrieval systems to help users find relevant information through

the use of my knowledge of the basics of design, query and evaluation.

 References

Design Your Database Online. (n.d.). Retrieved April 07, 2017, from
https://www.vertabelo.com/home

Hirsh, S. (2015). Information services today: an introduction. Lanham: Rowman &

Littlefield.

Sheldon, B. E., & Haycock, K. (2008). The portable MLIS: insights from the experts. Westport,
CT: Libraries Unlimited.