Disposal of information seeking and retrieval research: replacement with a radical proposition

Introduction. Research and theory on the topics of information seeking and retrieval have been plagued by some fundamental problems for several decades. Many of the difficulties spring from mechanistic and instrumental thinking and modelling. Method. Existing models of information retrieval and information seeking are examined for efficacy in a probabilistic environment. Alternatives to determinism are explored. Analysis. The models that have been suggested are investigated for openness to human volition and the nature of questioning. This investigation is the basis for examination of authenticity among the models and potential desiderata in the thinking underpinning the modelling. Conclusions. The only viable solution to the problems of determinism is a complete re-conception of the nature of people who want to be informed—where the desire comes from, how perception affects the process, and outcomes can be assessed. Page 1 of 15 Disposal of information seeking and retrieval research: replacement with a radical proposi... 11/12/2013 http://informationr.net/ir/18-3/colis/paperC24.html