Does the perceived usefulness of search facets vary by task type?

This research addresses the need for faceted search systems that can support task-based searching. We report on a systems review carried out to identify the most prevalent facets in current use across three domains and an online questionnaire with 83 responses conducted to assess the perceived usefulness of search facets for different types of search tasks. Results include a ranked list of commonly used search facets. Facets are perceived to be more useful for search tasks motivated by learning goals than those with functional goals (doing tasks). Usefulness scores for specific facets were quite consistent across tasks, so findings do not support the concept of dynamic, task-based display of search facets.