On the Nature and Function of Explanation in Intelligent Information Retrieval.

This paper discusses the complexity of explanation activity in human-human goal-directed dialogue and suggests that this complexity ought to be taken into account in the design of explanation in human-computer interaction. A general model of clarity in human-computer systems is proposed, incorporating explanation as one component. On the basis of this model, a model of human-intermediary interaction in the document retrieval situation which emphasizes cooperative model-building for the purpose of developing an appropriate search formulation, and the results of empirical observation of human user/human intermediary interaction in information systems, a model is proposed for explanation by the computer intermediary in information retrieval. (22 references) (Author/GL)