IITUH18 at Fairweb-2: Investigating the Effect of the Query Modification on Fairness

As information retrieval systems become increasingly sophisticated, ensuring fairness and algorithmic neutrality in search results has emerged as a critical challenge. Traditional ranking algorithms often prioritize relevance, which can unintentionally amplify the visibil- ity of majority groups while limiting representation for minority perspectives. This imbalance can lead to biased search results that reinforce existing disparities. To address this issue, fairness-aware retrieval methods aim to ensure equitable representation by balanc- ing relevance with exposure fairness while maintaining algorithmic neutrality. In this study, we investigate the impact of query modifi- cations on group fairness in ranked search results. Specifically, we examine how expanding queries to encompass a broader range of relevant content influences fairness between different groups while considering their protected attributes. Our findings contribute to ongoing efforts to design information retrieval systems that provide more inclusive and bias free access to information.