Information transfer viewed as interactive cognitive processes

This paper provides an over-view of the cognitive platform for the understanding of interactive information retrieval and transfer. It argues for a global cognitive view of information retrieval and use that is capable of encompassing the algorithmic as well as user-centered research approaches to information retrieval interaction. The view discusses the formation of individual information needs and relevance, and attempts to elucidate the assumptions underlying the predominant algorithmic retrieval models : the vector-space and probabilistic models.