CE306-6-SP-CO:
Information Retrieval

The details
2024/25
Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (School of)
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
15
02 May 2024

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

BSC I1G3 Data Science and Analytics,
BSC I1GB Data Science and Analytics (Including Placement Year),
BSC I1GC Data Science and Analytics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC I1GF Data Science and Analytics (Including Foundation Year),
BSC LG01 Economics with Data Science,
BSC LG02 Economics with Data Science (Including Year Abroad),
BSC LG03 Economics with Data Science (Including Placement Year),
BSC LG04 Economics with Data Science (Including Foundation Year),
BSC L310 Sociology with Data Science,
BSC L311 Sociology with Data Science (including Year Abroad),
BSC L312 Sociology with Data Science (including Placement Year),
BSC L313 Sociology with Data Science (Including foundation Year),
BSC LL20 Politics with Data Science,
BSC LL21 Politics with Data Science,
BSC LL22 Politics with Data Science

Module description

Search engines have become the first entry point into a world of knowledge and they form an essential part of many modern computer applications. While many of the underlying principles have been developed over decades, the landscape in search engine technology has changed dramatically in recent years to deal with data sources which are magnitudes larger than ever before (the rise of ‘big data’).


As a result, new paradigms for storing, indexing and accessing information have emerged. This module will describe the essential foundations of information retrieval and equip the students with solid, applicable knowledge of state-of-the-art search technology.

Module aims

The aim of this module is:



  • To teach students how to design, build and evaluate an information retrieval system, and to provide the essential foundations of information retrieval and to describe key research issues and possible future developments.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:



  1. Design and implement a standard information retrieval system.

  2. Understand standard IR models and their merits and limitations.

  3. Demonstrate an understanding of commonly used evaluation approaches in IR.

  4. Understand advanced concepts of search applications.

Module information

Outline Syllabus:



  • Term Frequency

  • Inverted Document Frequency

  • Inverted Indexing

  • Processing Pipelines

  • Evaluation

  • Neural Network Approaches

  • Research Topics

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be delivered via:

  • Lectures,
  • Laboratories and
  • Classes

Bibliography*

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Progress Test 1    10% 
Coursework   Progress Test 2    10% 
Coursework   Assignment 1: Elasticsearch, Indexing and Text Processing    40% 
Coursework   Assignment 2: Evaluation     40% 
Exam  Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 120 minutes during Summer (Main Period) 
Exam  Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 120 minutes during September (Reassessment Period) 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
40% 60%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
40% 60%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Richard Sutcliffe, email: rsutcl@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Richard Sutcliffe
School Office, email: csee-schooloffice (non-Essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create full e-mail address), Telephone 01206 872770

 

Availability
No
No
Yes

External examiner

No external examiner information available for this module.
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 57 hours, 25 (43.9%) hours available to students:
32 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).

 

Further information

* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.

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