The Information Retrieval Model

I have illustrated the information retrieval model (Figure 1) from the perspective of an information professional within an agency. The process of finding information can be divided into six stages:

1. Clarifying the information need: Information professionals are skilled in interview techniques that reveal the user's state of knowledge, and lead to a better understanding of the question by both parties.
   
2. Analyzing the information need: Information professionals must be adept at problem solving, and use critical thinking to look at a question from many angles before working on the answer.


3. Selecting the source(s) to search: Information professionals must know their collections and they must have knowledge of the subject area they are dealing with.


4. Formulating queries: The widespread use of electronic resources makes it essential for information professionals to develop good database searching skills.


5. Determining relevance: The information professional must assess whether a retrieved content item contains the information the user is looking for.


6. In the case of content retrieved from the Web, information professionals must evaluate the veracity and authoritativeness of the content.

In addition, information professional use their specialized knowledge of how people interact with information to bring the human aspect to the design and development of information retrieval systems. They participate in the evaluation and acquisition of systems, and train others in their use.

This model is set within the larger information retrieval framework of content description, storage, and the provision of physical access to content through various media.

(Click the image for a larger view)

Figure 1