Question answering system, data search method, and computer program

A data search method comprising:

• inputting a question;
• executing search processing on a basis of the input question;
• extracting an initial answer candidate on a basis of a result of the search processing;
• inspecting the initial answer candidate extracted to select a secondary answer candidate;
• and
• outputting the answer candidate finally selected, wherein:
• the inspecting of the initial answer candidate comprises:
• executing search processing with using a query including the initial answer candidate extracted;
• determining whether or not each word of a sentence, which is obtained as a result of the search processing executed with using the query including the initial answer candidate, has a similar lexical meaning to a lexical meaning of each word of the input question;
• and
• selecting an initial answer candidate contained in a query, which is determined to have the similar lexical meaning, as the secondary answer candidate.

A computer program stored in a recording medium, the computer program causing a computer to execute data search processing comprising:

• inputting a question;
• executing search processing on a basis of the input question;
• extracting an initial answer candidate on a basis of a result of the search processing;
• inspecting the initial answer candidate extracted to select a secondary answer candidate;
• and
• outputting the answer candidate finally selected, wherein:
• the inspecting of the initial answer candidate comprises:
• executing search processing with using a query including the initial answer candidate extracted;
• determining whether or not each word of a sentence, which is obtained as a result of the search processing executed with using the query including the initial answer candidate, has a similar lexical meaning to a lexical meaning of each word of the input question;
• and
• selecting an initial answer candidate contained in a query, which is determined to have the similar lexical meaning, as the secondary answer candidate.