Synonyms
Definition
Specificity is a relevance dimension that describes the extent to which a document part focuses on the topic of request. In the context of structured text (XML) retrieval, a document part corresponds to an XML element.
Specificity is defined as the length ratio, typically in number of characters, of contained relevant to irrelevant text in the document part. Different Specificity values can be associated to a document part. These values are drawn from the Specificity relevance scale, which has evolved from a discrete multi-graded relevance scale to a continuous relevance scale.
Key Points
The Initiative for the Evaluation of XML Retrieval (INEX) has defined Specificity as a relevance dimension that uses values from its own relevance scale to express the extent to which an XML element focuses on the topic of request. Since 2002, different names and relevance scales were used for Specificity at INEX. It initially evolved because the relevance dimension was...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Recommended Reading
Kazai G, Masood S, Lalmas M. A study of the assessment of relevance for the INEX 2002 test collection. In: Proceedings of 26th European conference on IR research. 2004. p. 296–310.
Pehcevski J, Thom JA. HiXEval: highlighting XML retrieval evaluation. In: Proceedings of 4th international workshop of the initiative for the evaluation of XML retrieval. p. 43–57.
Trotman A. Wanted: element retrieval users. In: Proceedings of 4th international. workshop of the initiative for the evaluation of XML retrieval. 2005. p. 63–9.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media LLC
About this entry
Cite this entry
Pehcevski, J., Piwowarski, B. (2016). Specificity. In: Liu, L., Özsu, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Database Systems. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7993-3_365-2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7993-3_365-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-7993-3
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Computer SciencesReference Module Computer Science and Engineering