Google's PageRank Algorithm and the Rasch Measurement Model

"PageRank" is a widely-acclaimed algorithm used for determining the ranking or ordering of web pages by web search engines (Langville & Meyer, 2006; Chung, 2008). It was originally developed at Stanford University by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who later started Google, Inc (Page & Brin, 1998). The algorithm has become a highly celebrated mathematical tool for analyzing networks of all kinds, including biological and social networks (Chung, 2008). The algorithm was the topic of a featured talk at the 2008 Joint Mathematics Meetings (joint meeting of the Mathematical Association of America and The American Mathematical Society) in San Diego.

The PageRank algorithm has much in common with one particular algorithm for estimating the item parameters of the Rasch model - the eigenvector (EVM) algorithm described by Garner and Engelhard (2002, etc.). Both methods depend on pairwise comparisons. Both methods also use the eigenvector of a matrix derived from pairwise comparisons.

An Illustrative Data Set

We can represent this data matrix graphically as a directed multi-graph, shown here, with nodes representing items. An arrow (a directed edge) from node j to node i indicates that someone got item i correct and item j wrong. So, the four arrows between items 1 and 2 indicate that 3 people succeeded on item 1, but failed on item 2, and one person succeeded on item 2 but failed on item 1.

The Eigenvector Method (EVM)

The EVM begins with creation of a paired comparison matrix similar to that now implemented in RUMM2020. A paired comparison matrix is constructed. Each entry, b_ij, representing the number of people who got item i right and item j wrong divided by the number of people who got item i wrong and item j right. This is an estimate of the difference in difficulties between items i and j on an odds-scale. b_ii are set to 1.

We can determine the Rasch item difficulties from this matrix by computing the eigenvector associated with the maximum eigenvalue, exponentiating the eigenvector, and subtracting out their mean, so that their sum is zero. The Rasch item difficulties are: -1.018, -.103, .268, .853.

The PageRank Algorithm

The PageRank algorithm is designed to assign weights to web pages so that the pages may be ranked in order of popularity. The web network we'll represent is the one depicted in Figure 1. The web pages A1, A2, A3, and A4 are represented by the four circles and an arrow would represent the fact that one web page links to the other web page. For example, web page A2 has four links to web page A1.

Each web site has a "PageRank" value associated with it. Let a1, a2, a3, a4 be those values. The PageRank value is conceptualized as the sum:

Nj is the total number of links out of Aj to any other web pages (6 for A2) and Mij is the number of links out of Aj to Ai (3 from A2 to A1) Thus each page in the system contributes a portion of their value to the page they reference. Then, for our illustrative dataset,

A convenient way to solve these simultaneous equations is by matrix algebra and eigenvalues, adding a constraint to make the equations identifiable and the unknowns non-zero. A solution is a1 = -.65, a2=-.49, a3=-.45, and a4=-.36. Thus, the easiest-to-link web page is A1, followed by A2, then A3, then A4.

Observations and Possibilities

There is much excitement over PageRank. Chung points out that PageRank is a "well defined operator on any given graph" (Chung, 2008), and describes the relationship between PageRank and random walks, spectral graph theory, spectral geometry, combinatorics, probability, and linear algebra. Langville and Meyer (2006) state that "models exploiting the Web's hyperlink structure are called link analysis models. The impact that these link analysis models have had is truly awesome."

The plot shows the relationship between the Rasch item difficulties and the PageRank weights for our illustrative dataset. This suggests that the relationship is ogival, but close to linear for practical purposes. Notice that the coefficients of the PageRank equations are in the range 0-1, representing empirical probabilities. Rasch theory suggests that expressing those coefficients as log-odds, log_e(coefficient/(1-coefficent)), would be an immediate improvement to the PageRank equations. Here is a fruitful area of research for a graduate student looking for a dissertation topic.

Tools being developed for PageRank analysis and validation may well prove productive for Rasch measurement. These include techniques for accommodating missing and extreme comparisons, and also for identifying "cut vertices", web pages whose omission causes disconnected subsets of web pages in the analysis. These would correspond to elements (items, persons, raters) on which the linkage in judging plans, adaptive-testing or equating analysis depends.

Mary Garner, Kennesaw State University, Georgia

Chung, Fan. (2008). The Mathematics of PageRank. Presentation at the Joint Mathematics Meetings. San Diego, CA. www.math.ucsd.edu/~fan/

Garner, M., & Engelhard, G. (2002). An Eigenvector Method For Estimating Item Parameters Of The Dichotomous And Polytomous Rasch models. Journal of Applied Measurement, 3(2), 107-128.

Langville, A.N., & Meyer, C.D. (2006). Google's PageRank and Beyond: The Science of Search Engine Rankings. Princeton University Press.

Page, L., & Brin, S. (1998). The Anatomy of a Large Scale Hypertextual Search Engine. Proceedings of the Seventh International Web Conference. infolab.stanford.edu/pub/papers/google.pdf

Rasch, G. (1977). On specific objectivity: An attempt at formalizing the request for generality and validity of scientific statements. Danish Yearbook of Philosophy, 14, 58-94. www.rasch.org/memo18.htm

Gerner M. (2009) Google's PageRank Algorithm and the Rasch Measurement Model, Rasch Measurement Transactions, 2009, 23:2, 1201-2

Rasch Books and Publications
Invariant Measurement: Using Rasch Models in the Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences, 2nd Edn. George Engelhard, Jr. & Jue Wang	Applying the Rasch Model (Winsteps, Facets) 4th Ed., Bond, Yan, Heene	Advances in Rasch Analyses in the Human Sciences (Winsteps, Facets) 1st Ed., Boone, Staver	Advances in Applications of Rasch Measurement in Science Education, X. Liu & W. J. Boone	Rasch Analysis in the Human Sciences (Winsteps) Boone, Staver, Yale
Introduction to Many-Facet Rasch Measurement (Facets), Thomas Eckes	Statistical Analyses for Language Testers (Facets), Rita Green	Invariant Measurement with Raters and Rating Scales: Rasch Models for Rater-Mediated Assessments (Facets), George Engelhard, Jr. & Stefanie Wind	Aplicação do Modelo de Rasch (Português), de Bond, Trevor G., Fox, Christine M	Appliquer le modèle de Rasch: Défis et pistes de solution (Winsteps) E. Dionne, S. Béland
Exploring Rating Scale Functioning for Survey Research (R, Facets), Stefanie Wind	Rasch Measurement: Applications, Khine	Winsteps Tutorials - free Facets Tutorials - free	Many-Facet Rasch Measurement (Facets) - free, J.M. Linacre	Fairness, Justice and Language Assessment (Winsteps, Facets), McNamara, Knoch, Fan
Other Rasch-Related Resources: Rasch Measurement YouTube Channel
Rasch Measurement Transactions & Rasch Measurement research papers - free	An Introduction to the Rasch Model with Examples in R (eRm, etc.), Debelak, Strobl, Zeigenfuse	Rasch Measurement Theory Analysis in R, Wind, Hua	Applying the Rasch Model in Social Sciences Using R, Lamprianou	El modelo métrico de Rasch: Fundamentación, implementación e interpretación de la medida en ciencias sociales (Spanish Edition), Manuel González-Montesinos M.
Rasch Models: Foundations, Recent Developments, and Applications, Fischer & Molenaar	Probabilistic Models for Some Intelligence and Attainment Tests, Georg Rasch	Rasch Models for Measurement, David Andrich	Constructing Measures, Mark Wilson	Best Test Design - free, Wright & Stone Rating Scale Analysis - free, Wright & Masters
Virtual Standard Setting: Setting Cut Scores, Charalambos Kollias	Diseño de Mejores Pruebas - free, Spanish Best Test Design	A Course in Rasch Measurement Theory, Andrich, Marais	Rasch Models in Health, Christensen, Kreiner, Mesba	Multivariate and Mixture Distribution Rasch Models, von Davier, Carstensen

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