Is Google's PageRank (TM) an opinion or an objective measurement?

purple..

Thanks for your question.  According to Google software engineer Matt
Cutts, PageRank "..first identifies the link structure of the entire
web, then ranking individual pages based on the number and importance
of pages linked to them"
Google: Search Technology for the Millennium
http://www.searchengineguide.com/wi/2002/0211_wi1.html

Now, with that being said, what does it mean?  Basically, if web page
A, which has a high PageRank is linked to web page B, Google assumes
that page A is "voting" for page B.  So, in essence, the answer to
your quetion is that PageRank is an objective measurement in that it
is using a number, in this case the number of outbound and inbound
links, to determine the number.  The actual formula used for PageRank
is one of the better kept secrets in the search engine world, however,
it is believed that it is some type of logarithmic scale.

There are several very good sources of information on PageRank:

Google's PageRank Explained and how to make the most of it
http://webworkshop.net/pagerank.html

PageRank explained correctly
http://www.iprcom.com/papers/pagerank/index.html

The Anatomy of a Large-Scale Hypertextual Web Search Engine
http://www-db.stanford.edu/~backrub/google.html
NOTE: This paper was written by Google founders Sergey Brin and
Lawrence Page

I hope the above information has been helpful.  If you need any
additional clarification, please let me know.

Regards,

-THV

Search Strategy:
how does pagerank work?

---

Clarification of Answer by tar_heel_v-ga on 01 Feb 2003 12:33 PST

In regards to your rating as well as to the reference in your rating
(your posting on the http://www.supportforums.org/article168.html):

The fact that I "Missed some important information sources", which is
obviously a paper that you authored, leads you to believe that I did
not research thoroughly.  If you read the Google Answers pricing guide
at http://answers.google.com/answers/pricing.html, you will see:
"$2-$5 Can be answered with a single link or a single piece of
information. Sometimes, if a researcher is personally interested in
the question's subject, they may provide a longer answer."  I provided
various lengths that backed up my response of the fact that it is an
objective measurement.  Your question was is it an opinion or an
objective measurement.  We are in agreement that a logrithmic scale
and function is used to determine page rank, which in and unto itself
is an onjective means of determing PR.  The formula that determines
that scale, I guess, could be construed as subjective.  That is an
argument that, as you obviously know, has been going on for as long as
PR has been around.

Secondly, your posting at http://www.supportforums.org/article168.html
states "There's no arguing with me now, it says right on Google's
site" is incorrect.  Read the disclaimer at the bottom of every page:
"Answers and comments provided on Google Answers are general
information, and are not intended to substitute for informed
professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal,
investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Google does not
endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product,
manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or
any opinion expressed in answers or comments"

Therefore, the information posted here is not official Google policy,
so pointing people to a comment by a Researcher as a basis of proving
your point is incorrect.

You may also want to read the Google Answers Terms of Service at
https://answers.google.com/answers/termsofservice.html, specifically
#7:
"The information provided by Google pursuant to this Service is
derived from the Google search engine or other public reference
sources (the "Information") and is provided by Google or independent
contractors ("Researchers") to assist in your research. The
Information has not been verified, however, and neither Google nor
Researchers represent that it is accurate, correct, complete,
reliable, or otherwise valid. Google does not endorse or recommend,
and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer,
distributor, service or service provider mentioned in any question,
comment or answer."   The key wording is "assist in your research". 
By providing information on how PageRank works, including information
from the inventors of PageRank, I feel that I met all the requirements
as outlined in the pricing recommendations as well as the Terms of
Service.

That being said, I am sorry you feel that my answer did not meet your
requirements.

Regards,

-THV

Popular opinion: http://www.supportforums.org/article168.html
Failed to try the obvious query "is pagerank an opinion". Missed some
important information sources.

From what I have been reading regarding the current lawsuit, the best
way to look at it is:

The system for obtaining PageRank is an objective measurement.

The resulting PageRank is an opinion. Another search engine company
could use the same method, but tweaked differently, to give different
results. Their PageRanks, which would be different to Google's, would
be a different opinion.

The "obvious query" -- "is pagerank an opinion" --- yields no returns.

://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22is+pagerank+an+opinion%22&btnG=Google+Search

:-?  -K~

Try it without the quotes, the quotes are merely to make the query
clearer in the context.

And to be clear tar_heel_v-ga , important information sources would
have been anything about the SearchKing case. And I was very clear to
the readers about what relation the answer had to Google itself.

The algorithm is by definition an objective measurement. A given set
of inputs will always yield a specific output.

However, the weights assigned to various factors (such as "link from
SearchKing's  site farm") are clearly opinions.

Pagerank is both.

It is an subjective opinion to google as to how important your site
is. And it is measured objectively by their subjective algorithm.

The fact that it can be manipulated means they use a "structured"
method.

No charge.
http://www.websitemarketingplans.com/iacm/googlepr.html