Search Plurality

TL;DR

This paper introduces 'Search Plurality', a novel search engine design approach that emphasizes diverse query interpretations and category-based organization to enhance understanding and counteract ranking biases.

Contribution

It proposes a new concept of search plurality and a design that prioritizes categories over specific items, challenging traditional ranking hierarchies.

Findings

Highlights the importance of diverse query interpretations.

Demonstrates a category-based search display approach.

Counteracts bias from ranked lists.

Abstract

In light of Phillips' contention regarding the impracticality of Search Neutrality, asserting that non-epistemic factors presently dictate result prioritization, our objective in this study is to confront this constraint by questioning prevailing design practices in search engines. We posit that the concept of prioritization warrants scrutiny, along with the consistent hierarchical ordering that underlies this lack of neutrality. We introduce the term Search Plurality to encapsulate the idea of emphasizing the various means a query can be approached. This is demonstrated in a design that prioritizes the display of categories over specific search items, helping users grasp the breadth of their search. Whether a query allows for multiple interpretations or invites diverse opinions, the presentation of categories highlights the significance of organizing data based on relevance, importance, and relative significance, akin to traditional methods. However, unlike previous approaches, this method enriches our comprehension of the overall information landscape, countering the potential bias introduced by ranked lists.