Title: Boolean Searching. Understanding computers: today and tomorrow.
Author: Morley, D. & Parker, C. (2007)
Publisher: Thomson
Title: Computerized information searching. How to find information in science and technology. 4, 51-71.
Author: Lambert, J. & Lambert, P. (1991)
Publisher: Library Association
Title: Searching and Retrieval. Introduction to Modern Retrieval System. 4, 170-191
Author: Chowdhury, G. G. (2001)
Publisher: Library Association
Title of Article: Beyond recall and Precision: From System – Oriented to User- Oriented Evaluation
Author: Hersh, William (retrieved June 26 ’08)
URL: http://davinci.ohsu.edu/~hersh/user-studies.pdf
Title: Information Technology. 2006 Board Review for Librarians, 6-10.
Author: Esposo, S. S. (2006)
Publisher: Institute of Library and Information Science
ABSTRACT:
One of the most important skills for internet searchers today is to how successfully they can search for information on the internet. But since most people are keen to search for specific information on the internet, often than not, most of the useful information available online is not utilized because it could not be found in time of need. However, Boolean operators aided to make these information retrievable, it is use as part of the search strategy for accessing this vast array of information.
Boolean is use to further specify what a search engine to find. Its rule varies from search sites. It plays an important role in the coordination of the search concepts. Results relevancy to the concept being searched varies, basically, results can be too narrow or too broad depending on how concepts are presented. With the use of Boolean operators, search results could focus solely on one concept excluding the other concept (NOT logic), could retrieve all relevant concepts (AND logic), or relevant documents on either of the two concepts (OR logic). Other online search sites uses (+) for AND, and (-) for NOT.
An effective search strategy is feasible through user’s knowledge of concept keywords (its synonyms and word variant forms), and the application of Boolean operator.
THINGS I LEARNED:
Knowledge of the effective search strategy is a must for a researcher. And knowing at least the basics of Boolean operators is a great advantage, and could help minimize the cost of searching.
However, although the Boolean searching is widely used in keyword searches on most computer- based and online – based system, it still has its limitations especially with regard to the retrieved references ---most searches resulted to high recall but low precision. And at the end of the search process, no matter how extent the information retrieved was , the user is still the one who decides which material among the retrieved relevant by the system are said to be relevant based on his own evaluation.
But in some cases that although the clientele is familiar with the Boolean operators, clienteles understanding about the concept that need to be searched, is still the major influencing factor on the search process since the user is the one providing the key concepts. The Boolean operator functions only as connectors that coordinate the concepts provided by the users.
IMPLICATIONS OF THE NEW THINGS I LEARNED:
Through the readings i have learned to appreciate more the importance of having knowledge in Boolean operators for information specialist like me.
The fluency with concepts of data being searched conjunct with Boolean knowledge, is a great advantage for individuals working in a library to immediately assist their clienteles on doing web-based research, and other computer based system search. And also, in a user-based system set-up, providing an accurate constructed query statement (with the aid of Boolean operators) could help limit the time cost needed for just searching for relevant references from various search sites.
Based from what I have often experienced when doing keyword or phrase searches in online- based systems, I often re-do the search because most of the hits does not match what information I need, thus, I use Boolean operators in order to find at least more relevant references that matches my search query. I can say that knowledge on these search operators definitely helped me in adapting with the challenges presented today by the modern information retrieval systems.
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