Application of Genetic Algorithms to the Identification of Website Link Structure

This paper explores website link structure considering websites as interconnected graphs and analyzing their features as a social network. Factor Analysis provides the statistical methodology to adequately extract the main website profiles in terms of their internal structure. However, due to the large number of indicators, a genetic search of their optimum number is proposed, and applied to a case study based on 80 Spanish University websites. Results provide coherent and relevant website profiles, and highlight the possibilities of Genetic Algorithms as a tool for discovering new knowledge related to website link structures.