Toward a unified retrieval outcome analysis framework for cross‐language information retrieval

Abstract

AbstractThis paper proposes a Retrieval Outcome Analysis Framework, or ROA Framework, to systematically evaluate retrieval performance of Cross‐Language Information Retrieval systems. The ROA framework goes beyond TREC‐type retrieval evaluation methodology by including procedures focusing on individual queries, especially difficult queries. The framework is comprised of four interrelated components: (1) Overall System Performance Evaluation, (2) Query Categorization, (3) Translation Analysis, and (4) Individual Query Analysis. An example of applying the framework is discussed in detail. The author believes the proposed framework would be especially useful for the development of real‐world Cross‐Language Information Retrieval systems because the evaluation guided by the framework has the potential to discover causes behind poor retrieval performance.