Exploratory Search Beyond the Query–Response Paradigm Slides are created by Dmitri Danilov University of Tartu, 2009 1

self.Introduction Humans are explorers by nature Information overload => poverty of attention Currently, basic predominant retrieval paradigm is "query and response" (lookup) Lookup-based approach is insufficient! 1 of 9 2

self.Lookup-based.search Inability to fully represent how humans interact with search systems The potential dynamism of information needs during a search session Ignorance of important factors such as task context and information use Real-life searches typically contain multiple query iterations, postquery browsing, and detailed result examination, all of which are not captured in this model Exploration? 2 of 9 3

self.ExploratorySearch.now() Definition Still define itself as separate subdiscipline In many ways, exploratory search is as much about the journey through the information space as the destination 1. In exploratory search, people usually submit a tentative query to navigate proximal to relevant documents in the collection, then explore the environment to better understand how to exploit it 2. Selectively seeking and passively obtaining cues (signs, marks) about their next steps 3 of 9 4

self.ExploratorySearch.Description Key components: learning and investigation. Represents the activities carried out by searchers who are either Unfamiliar with the domain of their goal Unsure about the ways to achieve their goals Or even unsure about their goals in the first place! 4 of 9 5

self.ExploratorySearch.Differentiate() Multiple query iterations and multiple search sessions Can last for days, weeks, or months The information need that motivates an exploratory search is generally open-ended, persistent and multifaceted The goal of the search extends beyond simply locating information toward activities associated with learning and understanding. The interaction behaviors observed during an exploratory search are generally a combination of browsing and focused searching, with more emphasis on the former. Exploratory searches may involve the collaboration of multiple people in a synchronous or asynchronous manner. (Plan vacation together) 5 of 9 6

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self.ExploratorySearch.Systems //or ESS Support querying and rapid query refinement Offer facets and metadata-based result filtering Use search context (user's situation check) Offer visualizations to support insight and decision making Support learning and understanding Facilitate collaboration Offer histories, workspaces, and progress updates Support task management Serious Challenge for Developer 7 of 9 8

self.ExploratorySearch.Estimate() Still defining metrics.. Engagement and enjoyment Information novelty Task success Task time Learning and cognition Difficult to achieve... Difficult to gather results because difficult to measure and produce comparable tasks 8 of 9 9

self.ExploratorySearch.Future() Novel Interaction Paradigms Context Awareness Task Adaptation Decision-Making Support and What-If Analysis Beyond the Personal Computer Collaborative and Social Search Learning About New Domains New Evaluation Paradigms 9 of 9 10

self.Conclusion 11

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self.References R.W. White and R.A. Roth, “Exploratory Search: Beyond the Query-Response Paradigm,” Synthesis Lectures on Information Concepts, Retrieval, and Services, vol. 1, 2009, pp. 1–98. G. Marchionini, “Exploratory search: from finding to understanding,” Communications of the ACM, vol. 49, 2006, pp. 41–46.