Search result pages have a form to 'search' which can lead users to think that their search wasn't processed

Why does the search form have to say "Search Again" at all? Isn't "Search" clear enough?

I changed all the "Search Again" occurrences back to "Search". But yes, I'd still like search forms to say "Search Again" on results pages for manually entered searches, for the absolute minimum of confusion.

Sorry, I want to make sure I understand here; how would saying "Search Again" be the "absolute minimum of confusion"?

My understanding is that it's starting to become accepted practice that users expect "search" to mean:

    * a box where the user can type words
    * a button labeled "Search"
    * a search results page

I thought the following article gave a good treatment on the subject:

    http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20050509.html

This expectation changes for parameterized searches (e.g. the advanced search page, which I think we both agree belongs on a different page entirely that the words + "Search" button page), but I think that's a different discussion.

Matthew, is this still an issue?

Yes. A very subtle thing, but I'd like to do it one day.

This seems to conflict with / be in tension with remembering the search parameters on the form and allowing iterative refinement.

Preserving the search parameters is bug 297624. I don't think there's a conflict: "Search Again" doesn't imply that the search text has to be the same.

It does imply a new search, which it wouldn't be. I think I'm saying we need 'refine' or 'search again' (that is two buttons) or something like that.

This is a lovely example of the low bandwidth of text-only bug tracker comments. In person, this six-year discussion would have taken about 30 seconds total.

And with a sketch on a whiteboard (or even a built-in wireframe function in Launchpad Bugs) it would, I think, be clear that a "Search Again" button positioned immediately following a search field could not reasonably be construed as meaning "ignore what I just entered in the preceding field, and go to the form for starting a new search".