Defection detection: predicting search engine switching

Searchers have a choice about which Web search engine they use when looking for information online. If they are unsuccessful on one engine, users may switch to a different engine to continue their search. By predicting when switches are likely to occur, the search experience can be modified to retain searchers or ensure a quality experience for incoming searchers. In this poster, we present research on a technique for predicting search engine switches. Our findings show that prediction is possible at a reasonable level of accuracy, particularly when personalization or user grouping is employed. These findings have implications for the design of applications to support more effective online searching. Categories and Subject Descriptors H.3.3 [Information Search and Retrieval]: search process, selection process. General Terms Measurement, Experimentation, Human Factors Keywords Search engine switching

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2008
• Where: WWW
• Authors: Allison P. Heath, Ryen W. White
• Keywords: Internet Technology, Keywords Search Engine, Search Engine Switches, Web Search Engine, WWW 2008