UC Berkeley

The varying uses of the term "relevance" are considered by analyzing retrieval-related activities into three different processes (Formulation, Retrieval, and Utilization) and four sorts of entities (Enquiry, Attribute, Response, and Benefit). Three quite different sorts of "relevance" are identified (Responsiveness, Pertinence, and Beneficiality). It is argued that relevance in the sense of utility cannot properly be used to evaluate the performance of retrieval processes as retrieval processes. Any use of utility implies that the utilization is also being considered. © 1983.