Moves in Online Searching

Moves, or changes in query formulation, are made to resolve three problem situations: (1) when retrieved sets are too large; (2) when they are too small; (3) when retrieved sets are off-target. Observation and analysis of about ninety searches resulted in a list of eighteen operational moves or modifications of query formulation, that keep the meaning of query components unchanged and twelve conceptual moves which change the meaning of query components. All these moves are explained and then related to search tactics and strategies.

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