[Web4lib] Google limit of 1,000 results

[Isidro F. Aguillo]

We are using the raw number provided by Google for our ranking of 
universities on the web:

www.webometrics.info

When we ask for the number of pages of a university domain 
(site:cam.ac.uk), we discover that numbers provided by Google are 
rounded (all results end in 00 or 000). For some institutions, Google 
database still provides results no longer available (pages, but also 
complete domains). Moreover, number of pages from some eastern Asian 
countries seems very low, specially regarding Japanese universities. So 
there is also bias in coverage.

We still use the data as our aim is to build rankings based on relative 
positions, but we will thank exact figures and a more consistent 
coverage by Google.

Other search engines show similar shortcommings, but for example MSN 
Search gives exact numbers and better coverage of Asian countries.

Best regards,

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Isidro F. Aguillo
isidro at cindoc.csic.es
Ph:(+34) 91-5635482 ext. 313

Laboratorio de Internet. CINDOC-CSIC
Joaquin Costa, 22
28002 Madrid. SPAIN

http://www.cindoc.csic.es/cybermetrics
http://www.webindicators.org
http://www.eicstes.org
http://internetlab.cindoc.csic.es
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