Don’t be so Myopic! Boolean / Keyword isn’t the Only Method of Search: Browsing is Also a Formal Method of Info. Discovery in Library and Information Studies

Browsing IS a Formal Method of Information / Content Discovery

First, read this: “Browsing is a crucial component of information discovery; it allows an information seeker to expand organically upon an initial vague, often unarticulated need.”   This came from the wonderful article Why Browsing Is So Important to Content Discovery at http://mashable.com/2011/09/06/browsing-content-discovery/

It’s Cool to Say You Know Boolean, but Boolean is NOT Always Effective

I know, it’s cool to say you know Boolean.  Heck, there are even blogs focusing on Boolean run by the “elite” (self anointed) in this world in which we focus.  Plus, Boolean also looks cool.  People literally think that once you know or understand Boolean search, that you will then find whatever it is you’re looking for.  After all, how could it fail given that every source you search is perfect (sarcastic)?!  

Why is Boolean Not Always Effective?  A Source is Only as Good as How it Was Created and How it’s Maintained

• “Hidden” resources / the invisible or deep web -  http://www.namessourcing.tv/2010/11/short-video-tutorials-on-using.html

• People are individuals and see things differently, including what industry they would classify themselves as working in - http://www.namessourcing.tv/2010/04/think-big-and-use-linkedin-dynamic.html

• People are individuals and see things differently, including what they think their title is (or what they WANT it to be) -  http://www.namessourcing.tv/2011/08/when-names-sourcing-using-professional.html

• Incomplete profiles / orphan profiles - http://www.namessourcing.tv/2011/05/yes-it-can-happen-use-right-linkedin.html

• Different ways of abbreviating titles, companies, industries - http://www.namessourcing.tv/2011/08/when-names-sourcing-using-professional.html

• Yes, believe it or not, people make mistakes and misspell - http://www.namessourcing.tv/2011/03/quick-post-for-job-seekers-those.html

• Etc., Etc., Etc.

Hopefully you get my point.  IN NO WAY WILL YOU COMPLETELY PERFORM AN EXHAUSTIVE SEARCH ONLY THROUGH THE USE OF BOOLEAN / KEYWORD SEARCH!  

So, is there any way to perform an exhaustive search?  Nope.  BUT, you can increase the effectiveness of your search through the use of browsing.

Why Browsing for Content / Info. Discovery? Think Grocery Stores

When you hear the term browsing, you probably think of ineffective searching, or a sort of  “Hail Mary” approach that relies on luck.  Nope.  Just consider this: is every classification system perfect?  Ah, no.  Is Dewey more perfect than the Library of Congress?  Ah, no.

 

As a real life example, when you’re at a grocery store, are things ALWAYS where you think they’d be?  No!  You think an energy bar should be in the candy aisle, but Henry thinks they should be in the vitamin section.  So, you go to the candy aisle and no luck.  Since everyone is on break, you begin to…….BROWSE!  You being to think.  Ok, where else could they be?  Natural foods?  Browse there…no.  The check out area?  No.  Wait, wait, where are the Vitamins?  You head there, you turn an aisle, and bang…the energy bars.  See, now you know what I mean.

Think Taxonomies, Ontologies, Controlled Vocabularies: Even LinkedIn Uses Them

I’m not going to go on too much more because hardly anyone reads this blog and I have 50 things to do. 

In the subject of browsing in Library and Information Science, you’ll find the term Subject Headings.  You’ve probably heard the words Taxonomy or Ontology, or, perhaps, the term “Controlled Vocabulary.” In short, this is a group of words or terms or even phrases that relate to each other, typically by subject or area of focus and usually organized hierarchically.  Example: Engineering – Chemical Engineering vs. Engineering – Mechanical Engineering.  Under these “higher” subject headings follow more terms such as professional titles - Process Engineering. 

Real Life Recruiting Examples of Browsing: Someone at LinkedIn Knows about Controlled Vocabularies 

Someone at LinkedIn knows about subject headings and taxonomies and their relation to browsing in order to find related people and/or companies.  

Next time you’re in LinkedIn and you perform a search, make sure that when you open an applicable profile that you look to the right of your screen and scroll down to the section “Viewers of this profile also viewed...”  What do you see?  Other names, right.  Wow.  Now, not all are related, but the algorithm behind LinkedIn has done some work for you based on like keywords, industry focus, etc.  (Hint: ontology).  Now, browse!  Open some up and you’ll see that many did not come up in your keyword search due to the factors mentioned above.  But, many may still be worth calling.  Refine the list if necessary, even by adding keywords! 

But it doesn’t stop there.  One last example.  Open up a profile that fits with your search and scroll over the persons’ professional title.  What do you see?  You’ll see that it becomes clickable, but you’ll also see the words “Find users with this title.” OR if you scroll over other areas such as “Education” or “Activities and Societies” they too become clickable and you’ll see the words, “Find users with this keyword.”    Are you following me?  If you follow them, you’re browsing!

Ok, now I’m done.  But if you still don’t get it, check out this great article: Why Browsing Is So Important to Content Discovery at http://mashable.com/2011/09/06/browsing-content-discovery/

Note: Justin Sivey holds and MLIS, Master of Library and Information Science.  So, unlike most, he finds this stuff fascinating and loves to talk about it!