Reimagining Information Access for Radical Futures in Search and Society

Основні поняття

The community should re-center research agendas on societal needs and develop diverse sociotechnical imaginaries in Information Retrieval.

Анотація

The content discusses the transformative changes in Information Retrieval (IR) research, emphasizing the need to articulate sociotechnical imaginaries and theories of change. It calls for a shift towards societal needs, challenging the status quo, and fostering collaborations with various disciplines to envision radical futures in IR.

1. Introduction

• Sociotechnical imaginaries shape information access technologies.
• Diverse perspectives guide technological research.
• Importance of articulating visions for future IR systems.

2. Background

• IR systems influence societal information exposure.
• Recent focus on fairness, accountability, and transparency in IR.
• Impact of foundation models on information access.

3. Why now?

• Significant developments in IR and adjacent fields.
• LLMs changing information access dynamics.
• Societal challenges necessitate a reevaluation of IR research.

4. Towards sociotechnical change

• Political reflections in IR research.
• Incorporating feminist, queer, decolonial, and anti-oppressive perspectives.
• Critiquing existing approaches and reimagining IR systems.

5. How do we get there?

• Hierarchy of stakeholder needs in IR research.
• Shift towards prioritizing societal concerns.
• Collaboration with diverse disciplines for radical change.

Статистика

"Nearly half a century ago, Belkin and Robertson concluded that IR research should acknowledge its responsibility to society."
"Fairness in ranking has garnered significant attention in recent IR literature."
"LLMs are changing how we access information."
"IR research has considered questions of fairness between producers."

Цитати

"The exercise of imagination is dangerous to those who profit from the way things are because it has the power to show that the way things are is not permanent, not universal, not necessary." - Ursula K. Le Guin
"Only the sort of transparency that arises from critique can help us produce technological systems that are less deceptive and more just." - Hollanek

Ключові висновки, отримані з

Search and Society

by Bhaskar Mitr... о arxiv.org 03-27-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2403.17901.pdf

Глибші Запити

How can IR research contribute to societal needs beyond improving system attributes?

IR research can contribute to societal needs by shifting its focus from solely improving system attributes like relevance and efficiency to addressing broader societal concerns. This can be achieved by reorienting research agendas towards promoting knowledge production, public education, social justice, and informed citizenry. For example, IR systems can be designed to support dialogical interactions between users, fostering community engagement and knowledge sharing. Additionally, IR research can prioritize addressing issues such as misinformation, promoting digital literacy, and supporting marginalized communities in accessing accurate and relevant information. By aligning research goals with societal needs, IR can play a crucial role in shaping a more informed, equitable, and just society.

What are the implications of prioritizing societal concerns over consumer and producer needs in IR research?

Prioritizing societal concerns over consumer and producer needs in IR research can lead to a more ethical and socially responsible approach to information access technologies. By placing the needs of society at the forefront, IR research can contribute to positive social change, promote equity and justice, and address systemic issues such as bias, discrimination, and misinformation. However, this shift may also have implications for industry practices and economic incentives, as it may require reevaluating profit-driven models and power dynamics within the information access ecosystem. Balancing societal concerns with consumer and producer needs is essential to ensure that IR research remains relevant, impactful, and sustainable in the long term.

How can collaborations with diverse disciplines reshape the future of information access technologies?

Collaborations with diverse disciplines can reshape the future of information access technologies by bringing in new perspectives, expertise, and values to the research process. By engaging with social scientists, legal scholars, critical theorists, activists, and artists, IR researchers can gain insights into the societal implications of their work, challenge existing assumptions, and co-create innovative solutions that address complex societal challenges. These interdisciplinary collaborations can lead to the development of more inclusive, ethical, and sustainable information access technologies that prioritize the well-being of users, promote social justice, and contribute to positive societal change. By working together across disciplines, researchers can envision and build a future where technology serves the needs of all members of society.