Understanding an Enriched Multidimensional User Relevance Model by Analyzing Query Logs

Modeling multidimensional relevance in information retrieval (IR) has attracted much attention in recent years. However, most existing studies are conducted through relatively small-scale user studies, which may not reflect a real-world and natural search scenario. In this paper, we propose to study the multidimensional user relevance model (MURM) on large scale query logs, which record users’ various search behaviors (e.g., query reformulations, clicks and dwelling time, etc.) in natural search settings. We advance an existing MURM model (including five dimensions: topicality, novelty, reliability, understandability and scope) by providing two additional dimensions, i.e., interest and habit. The two new dimensions represent personalized relevance judgment on retrieved documents. Further, for each dimension in the enriched MURM model, a set of computable features are formulated. By conducting extensive document ranking experiments on Bing’s query logs and TREC session Track data, we systematically investigated the impact of each dimension on retrieval performance and gained a series of insightful findings which may bring benefits for the design of future IR systems

Computer Anxiety, Phobia, Obsession and Work-Stress at the University of Ibadan: Part 2 - Evaluation of a Model

The study modelled the personality, demographic and experiential determinants of some computing-related behaviours among students and staff of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The behaviours were information anxiety, computer phobia, obsessive computing, and computer work stress. Validated scales were designed to measure these behaviours as dependent variables, as well as computing expertise, self-esteem, locus of control, personality type, age, sex, occupation and discipline of respondents, as independent variables. Models relating to these variables were proposed, and multiple regression analyses were performed to evaluate the models. Self-esteem, personality type, age and sex correlated in various ways with information anxiety, computer phobia and work-stress. (African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science: 2002 12 (1): 1-14