Linguistic aggregation operators of selection criteria in fuzzy information retrieval

A “softening” of the hard Boolean scheme for information retrieval is presented. In this approach, information retrieval is seen as a multicriteria decision‐making activity in which the criteria to be satisfied by the potential solutions, i.e., the archived documents, are the requirements expressed in the query. the retrieval function is then an overall decision function evaluating the degree to which each potential solution satisfies a query consisting of information requirements aggregated by operators. Linguistic quantifiers and a connector dealing with primary and optional criteria are defined and introduced in the query language in order to specify the aggregation criteria of the single query requirements. These criteria make it possible for users to express queries in a simple and self‐explanatory manner. In particular, linguistic quantifiers are defined which capture the intrinsic vagueness of information needs. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.