1. A method for searching for improved results from a process, which process is performed according to a set of parameters, comprising the steps of: a. providing at least one trial set of parameters for the process; b. performing the process to obtain a result for each trial set for which a result has not been obtained; c. selecting at least one trial set from the provided trial sets on the basis of an overall ranking of the trial sets based on a selected criterion, wherein the selected criterion is both quality and diversity; and d. perturbing at least one of the selected trial sets to obtain an additional trial set for the process; e. repeating step b providing the selected trial sets and the additional trial sets for further analysis.