We analyzed transaction logs of a set of 51,473 queries posed by 18,113 users of Excite, a major Internet search service. We provide data on: (i) queries --- the number of search terms, and the use of logic and modifiers, (ii) sessions --- changes in queries during a session, number of pages viewed, and use of relevance feedback, and (iii) terms --- their rank/frequency distribution and the most highly used search terms. Common mistakes are also observed. Implications are discussed.

Web search services are now a major source of information for a growing number of people. We need to know more about how users search Web search engines to improve the effectiveness of their information retrieval. This paper reports results from a major study exploring users' information searching behavior on the EXCITE Web search engine. The study is the first to investigate Web users' successive searching behavior as they conduct related searches over time on the same or evolving topic. A total of 316 EXCITE users responded to an interactive survey accessed through EXCITE's homepage. Users provided information on their search topics, intended query terms, search frequency for information on their topic, and demographic data. Results show that when searching the Web: users tend to employ simple search strategies; and often conduct more than one search (successive searches) over time to find information related to a particular topic. Implications for the design of Web search services are discussed.

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The study of successive searching, or users' searches in digital environments over time related to the same or evolving information problem, is developing as an area of research. A growing body of studies is beginning to investigate and characterize aspects of the successive searching process. This research draws together areas of information retrieval (IR) research and information-seeking research toward a focus on IR within the context of human information behaviour. Previous studies show that end-users of IR systems and the World Wide Web conduct a series of related or successive searches over time or request successive searches from search intermediaries. This paper provides results from a study that expands our understanding of successive searches conducted for information seekers by intermediaries. The study explored aspects of successive Dialog searches conducted by intermediaries for information seekers. Forty-seven intermediaries conducted as many online searches as requested by their information seekers who were working on a particular information problem. Findings show that information seekers requested a mean of two searches from intermediaries with a range of one to six searches. Successive searches were generally requested by information seekers to extend or expand, or refine the results of previous searches. Most successive searches involved some change in search terms and databases from the previous search. Interestingly, precision did not necessarily increase over successive searches and the percentage of partially relevant items decreased significantly after three searches. The findings have implications for interactive IR models, the design of IR systems and the practice of searching. 50 1 2