Berrypicking
Real searches evolve: people gather useful bits across a series of reworded queries, not one query and one answer.
Where it applies
Three of the eight page areas.
HomepageNot typical CategoryAlso applies SearchMainly here ProductNot typical CartNot typical CheckoutNot typical Post-purchaseNot typical
It also applies sitewide, on every page. See everything at work on Search pages
How to use it
Five ways to put it to work.
- Keep the query in the search box.
- Show related and refined searches.
- Keep filters when the query changes.
- Show recent searches.
- Offer a shortlist to collect finds.
What the research found
A conceptual model of how searches evolve, not a measured effect.
A conceptual model drawn from information-seeking studies, with no experiment or effect size.
Bates proposed it as a conceptual model drawn from information-seeking studies, with no experiment or effect size. In eBay search logs, Hirsch and colleagues found shoppers often reworded queries as results came back, and in Baymard’s industry usability testing of shop search, users reworded a query 2.2 times on average.
Key research
Three sources, each checked.
Last reviewed
Bates (1989) The design of browsing and berrypicking techniques for the online search interface Online Review Read the source Baymard Institute (2021)Industry Always Persist Users' Search Queries (37% Don't) usability research Read the source Hirsch, Guy, Nus, Dagan & Kurland (2020) Query Reformulation in E-Commerce Search SIGIR Read the source