Nj. Belkin et al., CASES, SCRIPTS, AND INFORMATION-SEEKING STRATEGIES - ON THE DESIGN OFINTERACTIVE INFORMATION-RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS, Expert systems with applications, 9(3), 1995, pp. 379-395
The support of effective interaction of the user with the other compon
ents of the system is a central problem for information retrieval. In
this paper, we present a theory of such interactions taking place with
in a space of information-seeking strategies, and discuss how such a c
oncept can be used to design for effective interaction. In particular,
we propose a model of information retrieval system design based on th
e ideas of: a multidimensional space of information-seeking strategies
; dialogue structures for information seeking; cases of specific infor
mation-seeking dialogues; and, scripts as distinguished prototypical c
ases. We demonstrate the use of this model by discussing in some detai
l the MERIT system, a prototype information retrieval system, that inc
orporates these design principles.