Monday, January 28, 2008

Viewing Unpersonalized Google Search Results

Google search results are personalized (based on your search history) and in general this is useful. However, as Google learns what I like it then provides me customized results and sometimes I am interested in how thing rank in the "regular" search. The regular search is becoming less and less relavant as so many results are personalized still I find it interesting. To view unpersonalized Google search results add &pws=0 to the end of the query url.

For Example to search for me, John Hunter, the first link gives your personal results and the second gives the "regular results":

http://www.google.com/search?q=john+hunter

http://www.google.com/search?q=john+hunter&pws=0

For engineering blog:

http://www.google.com/search?q=engineering+blog

http://www.google.com/search?q=engineering+blog&pws=0

For country manufacturing data

http://www.google.com/search?q=country+manufacturing+data

http://www.google.com/search?q=country+manufacturing+data&pws=0

Related: Should Google Use Factors Other Than User Value When Providing Search Results?

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