Integrating faceted structure into the search process

The nature of search requirements is perceived to be changing, fuelled by a growing dissatisfaction with the marginal accuracy and often overwhelming quantity of results from simple keyword matching techniques. Traditional search interfaces fail to acknowledge and utilise the implicit underlying structure present within a typical keyword query. Faceted structure can (and should) perform a significant role in this area - acting as the basis for mediation between searcher and indexer, and guiding query formulation and reformulation by interactively educating the user about the native domain. This paper discusses the possible benefits of applying faceted knowledge organization systems to enhance query structure, query visualisation and the overall query process, drawing on the outcomes of a recently completed research project.