> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://result-assessment-tool-rat.gitbook.io/result-assessment-tool-rat-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://result-assessment-tool-rat.gitbook.io/result-assessment-tool-rat-docs/what-is-rat-and-how-does-it-work.md).

# What is RAT and how does it work?

The **Result Assessment Tool (RAT)** is the free open-source research toolbox for collecting, analyzing and evaluating search results, developed by the Search Studies research group at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences.

Identify search queries, collect the matching search results from various search systems, such as Google and Bing, analyze them, and have them evaluated by jurors. RAT can help you with all these tasks and more.

{% content-ref url="/pages/MM953xr04nSanv8wiITN" %}
[Step 1: Definition & Collection](/result-assessment-tool-rat-docs/what-is-rat-and-how-does-it-work/step-1-definition-and-collection.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/drjmGsRWorj6AN9iGKWa" %}
[Step 2: Evaluation](/result-assessment-tool-rat-docs/what-is-rat-and-how-does-it-work/step-2-evaluation.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/9TVcrZLwGEepgJaB9cvb" %}
[Step 3: Classification](/result-assessment-tool-rat-docs/what-is-rat-and-how-does-it-work/step-3-classification.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/rBDKgdJ5EvsddeBl5G5c" %}
[Step 4: Analysis](/result-assessment-tool-rat-docs/what-is-rat-and-how-does-it-work/step-4-analysis.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}