College of Charleston business professor Bing Pan thinks people might trust the Internet search engine Google a little too much.
Pan and his colleagues conducted research, published in the April issue of the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, on how college students make their selections using the popular search engine. The researchers looked at where students’ eyes traveled on a Google results page and which links they clicked on.
Pan conducted the research while he was in a post- doctoral program at Cornell University. The research was partially funded by Google.
Pan said he found that when making a selection, users consider both the content of the site, which they get from reading the abstract on the results page, and the position it holds on the page.
“But position influences people more,” he said.
The benefit of a print source is that the content doesn’t change, nor does the page on which it was found. So often a student will cite something off the web, and when the teacher goes to check the source finds “404 — page not found”, or the page has been updated and the source material deleted or changed.
On the other hand, the web is a fantastic source for more immediate information that hasn’t made its way into print. For example a book on Ray Charles may not have the information on his death yet, but a web page will.
Which is why teachers will allow web sources but also insist on print resources as well. Justifably, too.
There are also cases where some information is being “censored” from official publications (such as research that disproves a theory touted by said publication) and the web provides the only viable means of publication of this research. It also allows the author of the page the freedom to add and subtract as more information becomes available, instead of having to wait for a ‘second edition’ of a published work to correct the information.
Plus you get to add comments.
So there are pros and cons to both sides of the issue.
Jim Elliott
Reference Librarian.
LibraryJim, your timing is perfect! Sorry to KSH et al for the OT-ness of this…
My wife has asked for some leads on online references for our homeschooled children (grades 5, 9, 10). Google and Wiki don’t quite cut it, as I’m sure I don’t have to tell you.
I’ve found I can subscribe to Britannica online, access Columbia online for free, and Encarta looks user-friendly (though I hate to patronize Microsoft.)
Any suggestions, tips? Any good reference material “clearing house” websites that you might know of? Feel free to email me at connecticutian_mail -at- yahoo-dot-com.
I sent a message but in case anyone else is interested:
Check out your local library. Often they will subscribe to a number of educational databases (such as Brittanica), which are free to access by any patron with a valid library card. They will often link to the State Library’s resources to extend their databases.
From my wife: Often a state’s Department of Education will have a list of resources for homeschoolers. More and more State DOE’s are recognizing the value of homeschooled education (and yes, there are still states that do not!), and will offer free or cost resources. Check their on-line site for more information. Florida’s DOE does allow out-of-state inquiries but charges for actually using the resources.
There is a site called [url=www.vegsource.com/homeschool]”vegsource”[/url] which is kind of a radical site, but they have on-line forums for both religious and secular homeschoolers. Log in required, but it’s free to set up the account.
Hope this helps
Jim and Genie Elliott
Florida
Oh, the library sites can also be accessed from your home computer, but you will probably have to input the library card number someplace on the site. It’s an easy process.
Definately check it out the library. It’s the least expensive route.