Berrypicking and information foraging: Comparison of two theoretical frameworks for studying exploratory search

Exploratory search is a specialised form of information searching behaviour that is open-ended, dynamic and multi-faceted in nature. The study elaborates the picture of exploratory search by concentrating on two theoretical frameworks for studying searching of this type, that is, the berrypicking model and the information foraging theory. The study focuses on two major issues: the motivators for exploratory search and the nature of search processes. The findings draw on the conceptual analysis of 30 key studies on this topic. The berrypicking model posits changing information needs as the main motivator for information searching, while the information foraging theory emphasises the role need for performing a task as a main trigger of information seeking. The berrypicking model devotes more attention to focused searching as a key constituent of exploratory search, while the information foraging theory concentrates on the characterisation of exploratory browsing