Include $a only title in the exact match title boost
For titles with both a $a title and a $b subtitle. If the $a is an exact match for a search query that title should also be considered an exact match and boosted in the same way to the top of the search results.
When searching a word/phrase, results with an exact match of the search term(s) in the title of a search result should appear higher in search results than those with a partial match in the title due to 'stemming'. Example: Staff wrote in that they were searching for the book "Resolute" by Benjamin Hall and only the econtent was appearing. After going through several pages, we found the record for the book on Page 10 of the search results, after several titles with either the word "Resolution" or "Resolutions" in the title, and after some titles without the word "resolute" or anything close to it in the main title. Today, while writing this, the book result has jumped to Page 11 of the search results - even worse. When using the Title index to narrow the search, it is slightly better, but not much, as the book appears on Page 4 of search results, still well after other results without the search term in their titles. (We were told this is expected behavior due to the current search algorithm, hence this enhancement request.)
-
Kathryn Brew
commented
If it is possible to separate out the subtitle for exact title matching, it would make so much sense.
We see this problem frequently. Examples from a related suggestion: https://ideas.iii.com/forums/951766-vega-discover/suggestions/48830501-relevancy-improvement
Search phrase: not the end of the world
-First you get resources titled just “Not the end of the world”
-Then you get resources titled “Izzy at the End of the World,” “The end of the world,” “Running in Flip-Flops From the End of the World,” etc. etc.
-Then you eventually get to “Not the end of the world : How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet.” This book should be ranked equally with the first group. It would be if only the $a field was considered.As I said in the other idea, it also gives weight to the incorrect absence of a subtitle over the correct existence of one. The search engine should still work the way people think (which is usually to only search for the main title but still want to be informed of the subtitle).