PRINCIPLES OF
SEARCHING
17:610:530 (01)
Tefko Saracevic
SCILS, Rm. 306
(732)932-7500/Ext. 8222
tefko@scils.rutgers.edu
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Communication

Course web site:

Course listserve
lis530_01@rams.rutgers.edu
http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~tefko/Cours
es/530
 posted will be exercises, lecture slides,
tutorials, information etc.
 download, copy print …
RAMS = Rutgers Automated Mail Service
 documentation at
http://rams.rutgers.edu/docs.html
 you are automatically subscribed from
registrar record
 used to email messages to the whole
class – the list is open, everybody can
email

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Your record
 RAMS
gets the email account
from your record
 Every student must have an
email account recorded at
the registrar
 Update your record at:
http://www.acs.rutgers.edu/
directory
 scroll
down till you get to
record update for students
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Your accounts

Rutgers University Library
get a barcode and pin
 follow instructions at
http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu
under How do I…?


DIALOG:
user name: will get a number from
class list
 password: scils


LexisNexis
user name:will get an ID from Nexis
 password: your last name

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Student groups

Form groups of four colleagues)
each group will have a number
 work out a method for
communication, exchanges

Groups will work together in the
lab & should cooperate as to
exercises
 A group will present exercise &
other results together
 Pick up missed instructions,
assignments from the group

© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Course objectives
Integrated understanding of:
 Content: content structure of
information resources - databases, Web,
reference - as they affect searching
 Systems: Models of information retrieval
(IR) systems, Web search engines, &
reference services

Human-human interaction: User
information seeking as the context for
searching; mediation & interviewing
 Human-computer
interaction:
Principles for effective searching &
variations in search strategies & tactics
 Results: Alternatives in presentation of
results to users; evaluation of results
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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In order to search you
need an understanding of:
Content: What is in the sources?
How is it organized?
Systems: Where? What kinds?
IR, Web, References ...
Human-human interaction:
How? You and the user
Human-computer interaction:
How? You and the computer
Results: What & how to
present; evaluate
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Symbolically ...
Content
System
HHI
HCI
Results
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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What will the course
NOT do?
 Create
professional searchers
out of you
 Make you an expert on
databases, systems, Web
engines
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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What will the course
DO?
 Provide
you with a practical &
theoretical foundation and
framework on basis of which
you can then:
 develop
into a professional
searcher or technical assistant to
users
 grow & evolve with the field
 adjust to inevitable changes in
the world of searching
 eventually, depending on your
other courses & life-long
learning, become an expert
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Mix
 The
course is a mix of
 theory
 experimentation
 practice
 Why
theory?
 Base
for further understanding
& professional development
 nothing more practical than a
good theory
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Topics covered
1. Overview
Theme A: Structure of content
2. Databases; structure of records
3. Structure of indexes; vocabularies
Theme B: Systems for searching
4. IR models; Boolean & ranking
5. Web search engines. Reference
Theme C: Human-human interaction
6. Information seeking by users
7. Intermediaries; mediation
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Topics (cont.)
Theme D: Human-computer
interaction
8. Interfaces; navigation, browsing
9. Effective search strategies & tactics
Theme E: Results
10. Presentation & display of results
11. Evaluation results & projects
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Course structure
1. Lectures
2. Required readings (book
bibliography & reserve on RUL)
with Summaries - per schedule
(50% of grade)
3. Laboratory exercises
4. Discussion
5. Term project (50% of grade)
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Summaries
 Brief
critical review
 Relate to (points added for this):
 relevant
personal, professional
experiences with library &
information services; examples
 translation/implication for practice
 questions for discussion, and/or
 other readings, topics, courses,
project, exercise
 Follow
APA format
 MUST have prescribed heading
(points deducted if not)
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Laboratory exercises
 Using
DIALOG, Lexis-Nexis,
Web search engines
 Search
for answers for given
questions
 Use a variety of tactics & features
 Homework
exercises as per
schedule
 Work cooperatively in groups
© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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Term project
 Select
a specific user with an inf.
need to do an online search
 Interview the user (if necessary
several times)
 Construct a user model
 Select databases for searching
 Construct search strategies &
conduct searching - reiterate
 Organize results for presentation
 Present results to user; evaluate
 Write a technical report
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Technical report
 Selection of user: who?
 User

question & model
what task? how much knows? what
topics? terminology? priorities?
 Mode
& results of interviews
 Summary of search tactics &
approaches, dynamics
 Changes in user model, user
definition of problem
 Changes in searching & you
 Evaluation -what does or does not
work? What effects of decisions?

What would you do differently?
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Exercises 1 & 2
DIALOG tutorials
LEARN & PRACTICE:
 Contents of databases
 Structure of databases &
records - BLUE SHEETS
 Basic search commands
 Basic output commands
 Logical operators, execution
 Truncation
 Searching in fields
 DIALINDEX; OneSearch
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© Tefko Saracevic, Rutgers University
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