Beel, J; Gipp, B. 2009. Google Scholar's Ranking Algorithm: The Impact of Citation Counts (An Empirical Study). RCIS 2009

[Eugene Garfield]

Beel, J; Gipp, B. 2009. Google Scholar's Ranking Algorithm: The Impact of 
Citation Counts (An Empirical Study). RCIS 2009: PROCEEDINGS OF THE IEEE 
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH CHALLENGES IN INFORMATION 
SCIENCE: 439-445. edited by Flory, A; Collard, M.presented at 3rd International 
Conference on Research Challenges in Information Science (RCIS 2009) in Fez, 
MOROCCO, APR 22-24, 2009.

Author Full Name(s): Beel, Joeran; Gipp, Bela

Language: English
Document Type: Proceedings Paper

Abstract: Google Scholar is one of the major academic search engines but its 
ranking algorithm for academic articles is unknown. In a recent study we partly 
reverse-engineered the algorithm. This paper presents the results of our 
second study. While the previous study provided a broad overview, the current 
study focused on analyzing the correlation of an article's citation count and its 
ranking in Google Scholar. For this study, citation counts and rankings of 
1,364,757 articles were analyzed. Some results of our first study were 
confirmed: Citation counts is the highest weighed factor in Google Scholar's 
ranking algorithm. Highly cited articles are found significantly more often in 
higher positions than articles that are cited less often. Therefore, Google 
Scholar seems to be more suitable for searching standard literature than for 
gems or articles by authors advancing a view different from the mainstream. 
However, interesting exceptions for some search queries occurred. In some 
cases no correlation existed; in others bizarre patterns were recognizable, 
suggesting that citation counts sometimes have no impact at all on articles' 
rankings.

Addresses: [Beel, Joeran; Gipp, Bela] Otto VonGuericke Univ Magdegurg, Dept 
Comp Sci, ITI VLBA Lab Scienstein, D-39016 Magdeburg, Germany

Reprint Address: Beel, J, Otto VonGuericke Univ Magdegurg, Dept Comp Sci, ITI 
VLBA Lab Scienstein, D-39016 Magdeburg, Germany.

ISBN: 978-1-4244-2864-9
preprint URL: http://www.sciplore.org/publications/2009-
Google_Scholar's_Ranking_Algorithm_-_The_Impact_of_Citation_Counts_--
_preprint%20aseotest333.pdf