Human-computer interaction in information retrieval: nature and manifestations of feedback

This study develops a theoretical framework for expressing the nature of feedback as a critical process in interactive information retrieval (IR). Feedback concepts from cybernetics and social sciences perspectives are used to develop a concept of informational feedback applicable to IR. Models from human-computer interaction and interactive IR are then adapted as a framework for studying the manifestations of feedback in IR. An informational feedback loop is defined as a unit of measure for IR feedback. Results are then presented from an empirical study of real-life interactions between users, professional mediators (information specialists) and an IR system ‘computer’. Data are presented involving 885 feedback loops classified in five categories. In conclusion we present a connection between the theoretical framework and empirical observations and provide a number of pragmatic and research suggestions.