Collaborative Information Retrieval: Concepts, Models and Evaluation

Abstract

Abstract. Recent work have shown the potential of collaboration for solving complex or exploratory search tasks allowing to achieve synergic effects with respect to individual search, which is the prevalent information retrieval (IR) setting this last decade. This interactive multi-user context gives rise to several challenges in IR. One main challenge relies on the adaptation of IR techniques or models [8] in order to build algorithmic supports of collaboration distributing documents among users. The second challenge is related to the design of Collaborative Information Retrieval (CIR) models and their effectiveness evaluation since individual IR frameworks and measures do not totally fit with the collaboration paradigms. In this tutorial, we address the second challenge and present first a general overview of collaborative search introducing the main underlying notions. Then, we focus on related work dealing with collaborative ranking models and their effectiveness evaluation. Our primary objective is to introduce these notions by highlighting how and why they should be different from individual IR in order to give participants the main clues for investigating new research directions in this domain with a deep understanding of current CIR work.

Empirical studies of collaborative information seeking: a review of methodological issues

“…The ten sources were published between 2006 and 2016, had passed the quality assessment of peer-reviewing, and contained a total of 1261 references. Golovchinsky et al (2009) Introductory article 8 Hansen et al 2015Edited collection 513 Hertzum (2008) Introductory article 33 Morris and Teevan (2010) Book 86 Shah (2010) Review 92 Shah (2012) Book 247 Shah (2014) Review 99 Shah et al (2014) Edited collection 87 Tamine and Soulier (2016) Introductory article 20…”

An Interface for Supporting Asynchronous Multi-Level Collaborative Information Retrieval

“…Large numbers of people often engage in collaborative search activities [21,22]. Working in collaboration for activities such as fact-finding and exploratory search is beneficial compared to individual search [26,35]. However, collaborative search activities that involve information sharing via conventional communication channels e.g.…”

“…A great deal of research in CIR, e.g. [12,23,34,35], has focused on supporting seamless collaboration between searchers and enhancing overall search performance by means of different types of interface components and/or algorithms. A common assumption in CIR is that search team members have equal and unrestricted access to the same information.…”

Group trip planning and information seeking behaviours by mobile social media users: A study of tourists in Australia, Bangladesh and China

“…In collaborative information seeking (CIS) and sharing, people interact and share information with each other, either explicitly or implicitly, using textual and other multimedia materials (e.g. notes, messages, documents, pictures and videos) as information sources to solve a shared problem in a team setting [12–17]. However, team members may not contribute equally to information seeking and sharing due to the lack of competence, accessibility, visibility and shareability of information in various domains (e.g.…”