Thesis Title
How Do Human and Contextual Factors Affect the Way People Formulate their Queries?

Research Description
I am a PhD candidate conducting research in the field of information retrieval, with a particular focus on how human and contextual factors shape the way users formulate search queries. Although people may seek the same information, they often express their queries in remarkably different ways, and even slight wording variations can produce significantly different search results. This highlights the importance of understanding the factors and underlying reasons behind these differences.

My research examines how individual characteristics, the components of a query, and the task-related factors influence query formulation. By uncovering what contributes to query variation, this work aims to improve both fairness and relevance in information retrieval systems. The ultimate goal is to support the design of more effective and personalised search tools that address diverse user needs and behaviours.

This research provides insights to guide the development of future query variant test collections. Drawing on the data gathered about how individuals formulate queries, researchers can create more realistic and nuanced persona profiles for generating queries, whether using crowdworkers or large language models (LLMs). These enriched personas can help ensure that test collections better capture the diversity of real-world search behaviours, ultimately enhancing the accuracy, fairness, and relevance of search systems. In addition, the study explores the practical implications for search technologies, including improvements to query suggestions, auto-completion, and query handling, contributing to better user experiences and satisfaction with search systems.

Supervisors
Prof Mark Sanderson, RMIT University
Prof Falk Scholer, RMIT University