Boolean queries and term dependencies in probabilistic retrieval models

• Published in: Journal of the American Society for Information Science Vol. 37; no. 2; pp. 71 - 77
• Main Author: Croft, W. Bruce
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, D.C Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.03.1986; John Wiley & Sons; American Documentation Institute; Wiley Periodicals Inc
• Subjects: Advantages; Boolean; Boolean algebra; Boolean strategies; Dependence; Exact sciences and technology; Fuzzy sets; General aspects; Information and communication sciences; Information processing and retrieval; Information retrieval; Information retrieval. Man machine relationship; Information science. Documentation; Information storage and retrieval; Information work; Natural language; Probabilistic indexing; Probabilistic methods; Probabilistic models; Probability; Queries; R&D; Relevance feedback; Research & development; Research process. Evaluation; Retrieval; Sciences and techniques of general use; Searching; Strategies; Subject indexing; Technical services; Vector space; New York; United States > US; Document retrieval; Semantic relation; Search strategy; Optimization
• ISSN: 0002-8231; 1097-4571
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4571(198603)37:2<71::AID-ASI3>3.0.CO;2-4

A method of integrating Boolean queries with probabilistic retrieval models is proposed. Boolean queries are interpreted as specifying term dependencies that can be used to correct the document scores obtained with a basic probabilistic model. Alternative methods of obtaining dependency information, such as user‐specified phrases, can also be used in this approach. The experimental results indicate that significant performance benefits can be obtained, particularly when dependencies are derived from term phrases identified in natural language queries. © 1986 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.