Microsoft Academic Search vs. Google Scholar

[David Goodman]

Preliminary data only:

There is substantial online help and information
<http://beta.search.msn.com/docs/help.aspx?FORM=HLDD4>

The link to the specific help for this point is:
<http://beta.search.msn.com/docs/help.aspx?t=SEARCH_REF_AdvSrchOperators.htm#sb_rr>

They do claim to use citations for ranking, if you mean links from other sites, not references within the paper.
(btw, references within the paper do not seem to count in the ranking, but they do seem to be searched.)

"Using results ranking, you can put emphasis on different factors to get a different set of results for the same search. Type your
search terms in the search text box, and then click Search Builder. Click Results ranking, and then move the sliders in the
direction you want: [3 choices]

Updated recently
To modify your search to add emphasis to sites that have been recently added to the search index, move the left slider up.

Very popular    To add emphasis to sites by the number of other sites that link to them, move the middle slider up.

Approximate match       To put the most emphasis on the match between your exact search words and your results, move the
right slider down.  Note This will de-emphasize the first two slider rankings."

==================

My confidence in their help screens is somewhat shaken by "Query rules"--same page

"All searches are "AND" searches. Pages that contain at least one of the terms you type are returned."

>From limited experiments, they seem to mean
 'AND searches, and only pages with both terms are retrieved'
rather than 'OR searches, and only pages with both terms are retireved'

I reported it,and will keep track to see if they fix it.

 Dr. David Goodman
Associate Professor
Palmer School of Library and Information Science
Long Island University
and formerly
Princeton University Library

dgoodman at liu.edu
dgoodman at princeton.edu

----- Original Message -----
From: "Pikas, Christina K." <Christina.Pikas at JHUAPL.EDU>
Date: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 3:32 pm
Subject: Re: [SIGMETRICS] Microsoft Academic Search vs. Google Scholar
To: SIGMETRICS at listserv.utk.edu

> Adminstrative info for SIGMETRICS (for example unsubscribe):
> http://web.utk.edu/~gwhitney/sigmetrics.html
>
> My early comment as related to this forum is that it doesn't attempt
> citations, I believe.  It looks at "authority", but I'm not exactly
> surehow that works. See this interesting quote from their page:
>
> How do you determine relevance? Are you using citation counts in the
> relevance ranking?
> We are determining relevance based on the following two areas, as
> determined by a Microsoft algorithm:
> # Quality of match of the search term with the content of the paper
> # Authoritativeness of the paper.
> Currently, we are not using citation count as a factor in determining
> relevance. Among the many reasons that led us to this decision was the
> fact that we wanted to have an accurate and credible citation count to
> be used in the relevance ranking. User trust of the relevance ranking
> algorithm requires a very credible, trusted citation count, and we
> willrevisit the inclusion of Microsoft derived citation count in the
> relevance ranking algorithm at a later date as our technology improves
> further.
>
> It is encouraging, from a librarian standpoint, that they are working
> with the Open URL resolvers -- even if JHU isn't included yet.
>
> Christina K. Pikas, MLS
> R.E. Gibson Library & Information Center
> The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
> Voice  240.228.4812 (Washington), 443.778.4812 (Baltimore)
> Fax 443.778.5353
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ASIS&T Special Interest Group on Metrics
> [mailto:SIGMETRICS at listserv.utk.edu] On Behalf Of Sloan, Bernie
> Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 1:24 PM
> To: SIGMETRICS at listserv.utk.edu
> Subject: [SIGMETRICS] Microsoft Academic Search vs. Google Scholar
>
> Adminstrative info for SIGMETRICS (for example unsubscribe):
> http://web.utk.edu/~gwhitney/sigmetrics.html
>
> Microsoft is unveiling their "Academic Search" product, which looks to
> be a competitor to Google Scholar, which some people compare to Web of
> Science, CiteSeer, etc.
>
> Just interested to see if anyone has any early comments...
>
> From today's online Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription
> required):
>
> Carlson, Scott. Challenging Google, Microsoft Unveils a Search Tool
> forOnline Scholarly Articles. Today's News. Chronicle of Higher
> Education.April 12, 2005. (Subscription required).
> http://chronicle.com/daily/2006/04/2006041201t.htm
>
> Also:
>
> Lombardi, Candace. Microsoft reveals answer to Google Scholar. CNET
> News. April 12, 2006.
> http://tinyurl.com/ghrjd
>
> And:
>
> Sherman, Chris. Microsoft Launches Windows Live Academic Search.
> SearchEngine Watch. April 12, 2006.
> http://searchenginewatch.com/searchday/article.php/3598376
>
> Bernie Sloan
> Senior Information Systems Consultant
> Consortium of Academic & Research Libraries in Illinois
> 616 E. Green Street, Suite 213
> Champaign, IL  61820-5752
>
> Phone: (217) 333-4895
> Fax:   (217) 265-0454
> E-mail: bernies at uillinois.edu
>