> 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 %}


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://result-assessment-tool-rat.gitbook.io/result-assessment-tool-rat-docs/what-is-rat-and-how-does-it-work.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.