Exploratory search

Exploratory search is a specialization of information exploration which represents the activities carried out by searchers who are:

  • unfamiliar with the domain of their goal (i.e. need to learn about the topic in order to understand how to achieve their goal) or
  • unsure about the ways to achieve their goals (either the technology or the process) or
  • unsure about their goals in the first place.

Exploratory search is distinguished from known-item search, for which the searcher has a particular target in mind.

Consequently, exploratory search covers a broader class of activities than typical information retrieval, such as investigating, evaluating, comparing, and synthesizing, where new information is sought in a defined conceptual area; exploratory data analysis is another example of an information exploration activity. Typically, therefore, such users generally combine querying and browsing strategies to foster learning and investigation.

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