Strategies of Random Searches

Starting point and promising directions Convergent or cluster strategy Divergent or wildcat strategy 

The reverse search starts from a set of desired properties and asks for substances that possess them. Theoretical knowledge and past experience should be relied upon to suggest where to look, since it is the fastest and least expensive approach. When theoretical knowledge and past experience have been exhausted, then random searches may be the only way to make progress, if the problem is sufficiently important and there is enough budget and patience. Table 7.1 compares some of the requirements and the pros and cons of the guided search and the random search 

The best strategy on how to spend resources of time and money most efficiently can be considered a problem in operations research, under the topic of optimal resource allocation. The best way to use the limited resources of money and time effectively may be a mixed strategy, with some guided and some random searches. 

Even a random search has to start somewhere. At the beginning, there should be a plan on what territories to cover and how to cover them. The plan can be deterministic, which is completely planned out in advance and executed accordingly. The plan can also be adaptive after the arrival of each batch of results and preliminary evaluations, the plan would evolve to take advantage of the new information and understanding gained. 

Depends on a large database and reliable theory Requires a few creative experts 

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