Methods for estimating the size of Google Scholar

Enrique Orduna-Malea (), Juan M. Ayllón, Alberto Martín-Martín and Emilio Delgado López-Cózar
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Enrique Orduna-Malea: Polytechnic University of Valencia
Juan M. Ayllón: Universidad de Granada
Alberto Martín-Martín: Universidad de Granada
Emilio Delgado López-Cózar: Universidad de Granada

Scientometrics, 2015, vol. 104, issue 3, No 15, 949 pages

Abstract: Abstract The emergence of academic search engines (mainly Google Scholar and Microsoft Academic Search) that aspire to index the entirety of current academic knowledge has revived and increased interest in the size of the academic web. The main objective of this paper is to propose various methods to estimate the current size (number of indexed documents) of Google Scholar (May 2014) and to determine its validity, precision and reliability. To do this, we present, apply and discuss three empirical methods: an external estimate based on empirical studies of Google Scholar coverage, and two internal estimate methods based on direct, empty and absurd queries, respectively. The results, despite providing disparate values, place the estimated size of Google Scholar at around 160–165 million documents. However, all the methods show considerable limitations and uncertainties due to inconsistencies in the Google Scholar search functionalities.

Keywords: Academic search engines; Google Scholar; Estimation methods; Size; Coverage; Webometrics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11192-015-1614-6

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