Where a Little Change Makes a Big Difference: A Preliminary Exploration of Children’s Queries

Maria Soledad Pera; Emiliana Murgia; Monica Landoni; Theo Huibers; Mohammad Aliannejadi

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-28238-6_43

Where a Little Change Makes a Big Difference: A Preliminary Exploration of Children’s Queries

Maria Soledad Pera
, Emiliana Murgia
, Monica Landoni
, Theo Huibers
, Mohammad Aliannejadi

Delft University of Technology
University of Milan
Università della Svizzera italiana
University of Twente
University of Amsterdam

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper contributes to the discussion initiated in a recent SIGIR paper describing a gap in the information retrieval (IR) literature on query understanding–where they come from and whether they serve their purpose. Particularly the connection between query variability and search engines regarding consistent and equitable access to all users. We focus on a user group typically underserved: children. Using preliminary experiments (based on logs collected in the classroom context) and arguments grounded in children IR literature, we emphasize the importance of dedicating research efforts to interpreting queries formulated by children and the information needs they elicit. We also outline open problems and possible research directions to advance knowledge in this area, not just for children but also for other often-overlooked user groups and contexts.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Advances in Information Retrieval - 45th European Conference on Information Retrieval, ECIR 2023, Proceedings
Editors	Jaap Kamps, Lorraine Goeuriot, Fabio Crestani, Maria Maistro, Hideo Joho, Brian Davis, Cathal Gurrin, Annalina Caputo, Udo Kruschwitz
Publisher	Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages	522-533
Number of pages	12
ISBN (Print)	9783031282379
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28238-6_43
State	Published - 2023
Externally published	Yes
Event	45th European Conference on Information Retrieval, ECIR 2023 - Dublin, Ireland Duration: 2 Apr 2023 → 6 Apr 2023

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume	13981 LNCS
ISSN (Print)	0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)	1611-3349

Conference

Conference	45th European Conference on Information Retrieval, ECIR 2023
Country/Territory	Ireland
City	Dublin
Period	2/04/23 → 6/04/23

Keywords

Children
Queries
Query processing
Search

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-031-28238-6_43

Cite this

Pera, M. S., Murgia, E., Landoni, M., Huibers, T., & Aliannejadi, M. (2023). Where a Little Change Makes a Big Difference: A Preliminary Exploration of Children’s Queries. In J. Kamps, L. Goeuriot, F. Crestani, M. Maistro, H. Joho, B. Davis, C. Gurrin, A. Caputo, & U. Kruschwitz (Eds.), Advances in Information Retrieval - 45th European Conference on Information Retrieval, ECIR 2023, Proceedings (pp. 522-533). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics); Vol. 13981 LNCS). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28238-6_43

Pera, Maria Soledad ; Murgia, Emiliana ; Landoni, Monica et al. / Where a Little Change Makes a Big Difference : A Preliminary Exploration of Children’s Queries. Advances in Information Retrieval - 45th European Conference on Information Retrieval, ECIR 2023, Proceedings. editor / Jaap Kamps ; Lorraine Goeuriot ; Fabio Crestani ; Maria Maistro ; Hideo Joho ; Brian Davis ; Cathal Gurrin ; Annalina Caputo ; Udo Kruschwitz. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2023. pp. 522-533 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)).

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abstract = "This paper contributes to the discussion initiated in a recent SIGIR paper describing a gap in the information retrieval (IR) literature on query understanding{\textendash}where they come from and whether they serve their purpose. Particularly the connection between query variability and search engines regarding consistent and equitable access to all users. We focus on a user group typically underserved: children. Using preliminary experiments (based on logs collected in the classroom context) and arguments grounded in children IR literature, we emphasize the importance of dedicating research efforts to interpreting queries formulated by children and the information needs they elicit. We also outline open problems and possible research directions to advance knowledge in this area, not just for children but also for other often-overlooked user groups and contexts.",

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Pera, MS, Murgia, E, Landoni, M, Huibers, T & Aliannejadi, M 2023, Where a Little Change Makes a Big Difference: A Preliminary Exploration of Children’s Queries. in J Kamps, L Goeuriot, F Crestani, M Maistro, H Joho, B Davis, C Gurrin, A Caputo & U Kruschwitz (eds), Advances in Information Retrieval - 45th European Conference on Information Retrieval, ECIR 2023, Proceedings. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics), vol. 13981 LNCS, Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, pp. 522-533, 45th European Conference on Information Retrieval, ECIR 2023, Dublin, Ireland, 2/04/23. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28238-6_43

Where a Little Change Makes a Big Difference: A Preliminary Exploration of Children’s Queries. / Pera, Maria Soledad; Murgia, Emiliana; Landoni, Monica et al.
Advances in Information Retrieval - 45th European Conference on Information Retrieval, ECIR 2023, Proceedings. ed. / Jaap Kamps; Lorraine Goeuriot; Fabio Crestani; Maria Maistro; Hideo Joho; Brian Davis; Cathal Gurrin; Annalina Caputo; Udo Kruschwitz. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2023. p. 522-533 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics); Vol. 13981 LNCS).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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AB - This paper contributes to the discussion initiated in a recent SIGIR paper describing a gap in the information retrieval (IR) literature on query understanding–where they come from and whether they serve their purpose. Particularly the connection between query variability and search engines regarding consistent and equitable access to all users. We focus on a user group typically underserved: children. Using preliminary experiments (based on logs collected in the classroom context) and arguments grounded in children IR literature, we emphasize the importance of dedicating research efforts to interpreting queries formulated by children and the information needs they elicit. We also outline open problems and possible research directions to advance knowledge in this area, not just for children but also for other often-overlooked user groups and contexts.

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AN - SCOPUS:85150967278

SN - 9783031282379

T3 - Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)

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A2 - Maistro, Maria

A2 - Joho, Hideo

A2 - Davis, Brian

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A2 - Caputo, Annalina

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PB - Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH

Y2 - 2 April 2023 through 6 April 2023

ER -

Pera MS, Murgia E, Landoni M, Huibers T, Aliannejadi M. Where a Little Change Makes a Big Difference: A Preliminary Exploration of Children’s Queries. In Kamps J, Goeuriot L, Crestani F, Maistro M, Joho H, Davis B, Gurrin C, Caputo A, Kruschwitz U, editors, Advances in Information Retrieval - 45th European Conference on Information Retrieval, ECIR 2023, Proceedings. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. 2023. p. 522-533. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)). doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-28238-6_43