It matters how you google it? Using agent-based testing to
assess the impact of user choices in search queries and
algorithmic personalization on political Google Search results
Dublin Core
Title
It matters how you google it? Using agent-based testing to
assess the impact of user choices in search queries and
algorithmic personalization on political Google Search results
assess the impact of user choices in search queries and
algorithmic personalization on political Google Search results
Subject
search engines, political information, search queries, user choice, algorithmic personalization.
Description
Search engines, as key sources of political information, have sparked concerns regarding selective exposure driven by user choices based on
political beliefs and filter bubbles created by algorithms. This study focuses on the most influential yet often-overlooked user choice: search
queries. We investigate the extent to which user choices (search queries) and algorithmic personalization (search history) lead to divergent
search results. Building on research linking immigration- and climate-related search queries to political characteristics, we conduct an experi-
ment on Google Search employing agent-based testing. Using computational methods, we examine variations in search results by source (type)
and search result page features. Our findings show that it is the specific search queries made by users, not algorithmic personalization, that
lead to substantially divergent information sources in search results. This suggests future research should prioritize user choices in information
search rather than control for them.
political beliefs and filter bubbles created by algorithms. This study focuses on the most influential yet often-overlooked user choice: search
queries. We investigate the extent to which user choices (search queries) and algorithmic personalization (search history) lead to divergent
search results. Building on research linking immigration- and climate-related search queries to political characteristics, we conduct an experi-
ment on Google Search employing agent-based testing. Using computational methods, we examine variations in search results by source (type)
and search result page features. Our findings show that it is the specific search queries made by users, not algorithmic personalization, that
lead to substantially divergent information sources in search results. This suggests future research should prioritize user choices in information
search rather than control for them.
Creator
Marieke van Hoof 1,�, Damian Trilling 2
, Judith Moeller 3
, Corine S. Meppelink
, Judith Moeller 3
, Corine S. Meppelink
Source
https://doi.org/10.1093/jcmc/zmae020
Publisher
Oxford University Press on behalf of International Communication Association.
Date
September 6, 2024
Contributor
PERI IRAWAN
Format
PDF
Language
ENGLISH
Type
TEXT
Files
Collection
Citation
Marieke van Hoof 1,�, Damian Trilling 2
, Judith Moeller 3
, Corine S. Meppelink, “It matters how you google it? Using agent-based testing to
assess the impact of user choices in search queries and
algorithmic personalization on political Google Search results,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed May 22, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/8795.
assess the impact of user choices in search queries and
algorithmic personalization on political Google Search results,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed May 22, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/8795.