The polyrepresentation continuum in IR

ABSTRACT

The polyrepresentation principle suggests that cognitively and functionally different representations of information objects may be used in information retrieval to enhance quality of results. In the paper, several empirical studies that intentionally or unintentionally have tested the principle are introduced and discussed. The continuum proposed by Larsen (2004; Ingwersen & Larsen, 2005) showing the structural dimension of the retrieval techniques involved in polyrepresentation is further elaborated by adding a novel second dimension consisting of query structure and modus. The new two-dimensional continuum can be seen as a constructive framework for further investigations of polyrepresentative principles in IR.

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Index Terms

• Information systems

  • Information retrieval