Google is testing a new way for users to give feedback on the quality of search results. In light of algorithm updates like Panda and Penguin (along with their subsequent data refreshes), people have plenty of feedback to offer (at least on the forums, and in blog comments).

A Google spokesperson gave us the canned statement, “As you know, we always ask for user feedback in a range of forms — from live experiments to inviting people in to our UX labs — in order to improve our products. This is one of our experiments — one of many signals we take into consideration to make search better.”

The experimental feedback box was discovered by Nathan Sauser (h/t:Search Engine Land). The box asks users: “How satisfied are you with these search results?”

Users can then choose from:

• Very satisfied
• Somewhat satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Somewhat dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied

Sauser writes on his blog, “Does this mean Google is going to start crowd-sourcing their results? Are they waving the white flag and admitting they can’t get rid of spam and asking for every user’s opinion? Seems like this is a can of worms they should be wary of opening.”

I don’t know about all of that, but that doesn’t mean Google isn’t taking feedback into consideration. We’ve seen plenty of examples where Google has implemented features for various products based on user feedback. Google has been really good about listening to feedback, particularly since Google+ launched, where Googlers are always engaging with users.

Currently, the normal Google search results feedback experience consists of a link at the bottom of the page, which links you to a form that looks like this:

It’s worth noting that the experimental feedback box is much more simplified, compared to the options in the standard form. Perhaps Google could get better feedback that way.

Well, how satisfied are you with Google’s search results?