Cases, scripts, and information-seeking strategies: On the design on interactive information retrieval systems

The support of effective interaction of the user with the other components of the system is a central problem for information retrieval. In this paper, we present a theory of such interactions taking place within a space of information-seeking strategies, and discuss how such a concept can be used to design for effective interaction. In particular, we propose a model of information retrieval system design based on the ideas of: a multidimensional space of information-seeking strategies; dialogue structures for information seeking; cases of specific information-seeking dialogues; and, scripts as distinguished prototypical cases. We demonstrate the use of this model by discussing in some detail the MERIT system, a prototype information retrieval system, that incorporates these design principles.