tiedonhaun

Tiedonhaun, or information retrieval, is the process by which people seek, locate, and obtain information resources that satisfy a specific need. In Finnish information science, tiedonhaun describes the interaction among a user’s information need, the search query, and the retrieval system—such as a library catalogue, a database, or a general search engine. The objective is to produce relevant results efficiently while supporting learning and decision making.

Core concepts include query formulation, relevance assessment, and ranking. Retrieval systems use models to connect queries with documents. Classic models include Boolean logic and the vector space model, while probabilistic and language-model approaches are also common. Modern systems blend signals such as term frequency, document structure, user history, and contextual cues. Information literacy and user-centered design shape how interfaces support search tasks.

Process and evaluation: users define a task, formulate a query, retrieve results, and evaluate relevance. They may refine terms, apply filters, or use advanced features like facets and synonyms. Effectiveness is measured by precision and recall, but user satisfaction and task success are also important. Post-retrieval techniques such as relevance feedback and query expansion help improve results.

Applications include libraries, academic databases, government portals, and digital archives. Challenges include ambiguous queries, information overload, multilingual content, and privacy considerations. Tiedonhaun is fundamental to information literacy, requiring skills to formulate effective queries, assess sources, and navigate information landscapes.