Information Retrieval

Module Identifier
DS31620
Module Title
Information Retrieval
Academic Year
2027/2028
Semester
Distance Learning
Co-ordinator
Dr Allen Foster
Reading List
View on Aspire
Other Staff
Jennie Hill
Ms Tanya Rogers
Dr Sue Lithgow
Dr Anoush Simon

Assessment

Assessment Type

Assessment details

Proportion
Semester Assessment Essay: 2500 Words 50%
Semester Assessment Report: 2500 Words 50%
Supplementary Assessment Report: 2500 Words 50%
Supplementary Assessment Essay: 2500 Words 50%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

  1. describe the structure and function of information retrieval (IR) and resource discovery systems
  2. outline the main concepts, issues, and debates relating to information retrieval
  3. explain what is meant by a ‘record’ and what solutions exist to the problem of ‘representation’ in information retrieval
  4. describe and evaluate different methods of indexing, including classification schemes, coordinate, and post-coordinate methods
  5. apply information retrieval principles to complete an example exercise/task
  6. evaluate current information retrieval research and future directions for information retrieval systems

Brief description

Effective Information Retrieval is at the heart of the 'Information society'. Beginning with the student's experience of Internet search engines and library OPACs the course progresses through the surface level user experience through successive layers into the underlying tools and principles of IR systems. Students will develop a working knowledge of the principles of information retrieval and generate a view of how information retrieval can develop in the future.

Content

The course will address a range of content linked to the learning outcomes. Primarily content will revolve around:

* Evaluation of information retrieval systems and the retrieval mechanisms operating within them
* Exploration and evaluate of different methods of indexing from traditional through to state of the art
* The methods, and issues surrounding, the evaluation of performance of information retrieval systems
* Solutions to the problems of 'record' and 'representation' in information retrieval
* Evaluation of the methods of indexing, including classification schemes, coordinate, and post-coordinate methods
* Evaluation of current information retrieval research and future directions for information retrieval systems

Module skills

Skills type

Skills details
Creative Problem Solving Students explore and decide on representation for information retrieval to create item records, and a classification scheme.
Critical and analytical thinking Analysis and evaluation of current research in information retrieval (IR). Selection and application of IR principles to solve a cataloguing problem.
Digital capability Exploration of theory and practice in digital information management, and application of relevant techniques for creating and interacting with digital IR records. Use several technologies to produce written work, including library and specialist catalogues and databases.
Professional communication Assessments requires writing for audiences that are typically experienced in the information profession workplace.
Real world sense This module encompasses the CILIP: The Library and Information Association’s Professional Knowledge and Skills Base (PKSB) accreditation criteria:• PKSB Organising Knowledge and Information, which includes cataloguing and classification, metadata and thesauri, subject indexing, and database design. All covered and assessed in this module.CILIP accredited courses are globally acknowledged as meeting the needs of international information professionals.
Reflection Reflection on theory and examples of IR discussed in the module and readings, and through this begin to solve IR problems such as they arise in their own workplaces and in answering the module assignments. As part of a CILIP accredited course the module offers opportunities for development in a number of information related careers.
Subject Specific Skills Evaluation and some practice of the principles and information retrieval systems, indexing methods (e.g. information retrieval systems, different methods of indexing, evaluation of performance of information retrieval systems, non-traditional multimedia information retrieval, IR research)

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6