Hacking the “wicked problems” of search : a hackathon as a collaborative approach towards capturing query variability

Abstract

This paper highlights insights gained from using a hackathon as a participatory method to capture search query variability, along with approaches to overcome its limitations. The hackathon, organised by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S), was held in Melbourne, Australia, in November 2025.