Hmm... search misuse

summary:

interesting fact, theories anyone?

Hmm... search misuse

hartnell 1210088041|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

I've noticed that the largest percentage of internal searches on any wiki is usually "search this wiki".

Why do you think this is?

— Shawn

Re: Hmm... search misuse

hartnell 1210088096|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

ok, besides the fact that the default phrase is "search this wiki." But why are members and readers just clicking the search button without typing in a search?

— Shawn

Re: Hmm... search misuse

AoiMasamune 1210094339|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Perhaps they mistakenly believe that pushing the search button will open a new page with advanced search functions? If so they could be mistaking the "search this wiki" string as a decorated text block instead of an input box. My guess is that it's just users being naive.

Re: Hmm... search misuse

hartnell 1210094774|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

That's something to think about. If this is was the case, what would you do first to help your member / reader understand the nature of the search box?

— Shawn

Re: Hmm... search misuse

ErichSteinboeck 1210106154|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

> I've noticed that the largest percentage of internal searches on any wiki is usually "search this wiki"

How do you know this?

Re: Hmm... search misuse

hartnell 1210126679|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

The crystal ball, of course. :) Analytics.

— Shawn

Re: Hmm... search misuse

ErichSteinboeck 1211406852|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

In Google Analytics what do you specify as the (required) “Query parameter”?

“q”, “search:site” or what?