Federici, S; Borsci, S; Mele, ML; Stamerra, G. 2010. Web popularity: an illusory perception of a qualitative order in information. UNIVERSAL ACCESS IN THE INFORMATION SOCIETY 9 (4): 375-386

[Eugene Garfield]

Federici, S; Borsci, S; Mele, ML; Stamerra, G. 2010. Web popularity: an illusory 
perception of a qualitative order in information. UNIVERSAL ACCESS IN THE 
INFORMATION SOCIETY 9 (4): 375-386..

Author Full Name(s): Federici, Stefano; Borsci, Simone; Mele, Maria Laura; 
Stamerra, Gianluca
Language: English
Document Type: Article

Author Keywords: Accessibility; Ranking model; Web popularity; Human 
computer interaction
KeyWords Plus: SEARCH ENGINE; SCIENCE

Abstract: Using a psychotechnological perspective, this study discusses the 
current model of information ranking by search engines, based on quantitative 
Web Popularity (WP), which binds users to a cognitive adaptation to the rank-
system restrictions. This phenomenon gives rise to a "rich-get-richer'' effect on 
the Web. This paper claims that such an effect could be limited or reversed by 
the introduction of quality factors in ranking, and addresses the case of 
accessibility as a fundamental such factor. A study is reported which, through 
introducing an accessibility factor in a well-known popularity ranking algorithm, 
demonstrates that this transformation allows a qualitative rearrangement, 
without modifying or weighing on the properties of the rank. The overall 
approach is grounded on two development factors: the analysis of accessibility 
through specific tools and the employment of this analysis within all 
components used to build up the ranking. The results show that it is important 
to reconsider WP as including not only on the number of inbound and outbound 
links of a website, but also on its level of accessibility for all users, and on 
users' judgment of the website use as efficient, effective, and satisfactory.

Addresses: [Federici, Stefano] Univ Perugia, Dept Human & Educ Sci, I-06100 
Perugia, Italy; [Federici, Stefano; Borsci, Simone; Mele, Maria Laura; Stamerra, 
Gianluca] Univ Roma La Sapienza, ECoNA, Interuniv Ctr Res Cognit Proc Nat & 
Artificial Sy, Rome, Italy
Reprint Address: Federici, S, Univ Perugia, Dept Human & Educ Sci, I-06100 
Perugia, Italy.

E-mail Address: stefano.federici at unipg.it
ISSN: 1615-5289
DOI: 10.1007/s10209-009-0179-7
fulltext: http://www.springerlink.com/content/82147404x0nh1jw6/fulltext.html