[Sigia-l] search queries as artifacts...of what?

[Michael Fry]

Anybody seen/done research on the (probably non-constant) degree to which the 
queries found in a site's search logs reflect users' interaction with the 
site's structure rather than their original information need?

In other words, all other things being equal, how much can one expect to see 
the contents of those logs change when the site's *structure* changes? Not at 
all, because users' original information needs haven't changed? A lot, because 
their info needs, as well their need/desire to search, depend on the site 
structure? Or, as I expect, something in the middle?

I don't expect a definitive answer to this question (even with references to 
research), but I'm curious if anybody's ever tried to measure this. Thoughts?

mf