INLS 200

UNC Libraries Resources

UNC Libraries Resources

Brain approximately $25K/year

Google Effect

• The tendency to forget information that can be found readily online by using Internet search engines such as Google.

• According to the first study about the Google effect people are less likely to remember certain details they believe will be accessible online.

• The study also claims that people's ability to learn information offline remains the same.

Sparrow Study (4 Experiments)

• In part one, subjects had to answer hard trivia questions. Then they used a software program. It required participants to insert which color (either red or blue) a word was as fast as possible. Some words were related to search engines, such as Google and Yahoo. The reaction times for the search engine words were faster. This indicated, according to the study, that the participants thought about search engines when searching for information.

Study 2

• the subjects read statements related to the trivia questions and had to remember them. They were told which statements later would be available to look up and which would be unavailable. The latter statements were remembered better. This suggests, the experimenters claim, that our memories are adapted to Internet information search.

Study 3

• the subjects had to type into a computer the details of answers to questions handed out to them. When some answers were typed in, one third of the times the computer said "Your entry has been saved.", one third of the times it said "Your entry has been saved on the folder FACTS, DATA, INFO, NAMES, ITEMS, or POINTS." and one third it said "“Your entry has been erased.” The participants were led to believe that they could make use of the ostensibly saved information in a test trial. The result showed they remember more from

the latter category than the two others.

Study 4

• The subjects believed the statements would be stored in computer folders. They had an easier time remembering the folder names than the statements.

Information Behavior (Case, 2012)

• Information – any difference you perceive

• Information need – we recognize inadequate knowledge to satisfy a goal

• Information seeking – conscious effort to acquire needed information

• Information behavior – all information behavior –seeking, avoiding, glimpsing, encountering

• Information practices – similar to information behavior in Europe and Canada. 10

human information interaction

• people interact with information routinely– seekers– targeted audience– “innocent bystanders” – prospectors

• interactions are influenced by situational variables

• information as a personal construct

Information Interactions Caveat

• We interact with information constantly• Our interactions are related to our past

experiences, our current situation, and our goals (among other things)

• We do not have the same reactions to the same piece of information

• We do not notice the same things• Designing interaction is a complex problem

Voting and purchasing an automobile are just two examples in Case's discussion of how information behavior can affect decision making. Although one person's vote or one automobile purchase does not make a huge difference, studying what kinds of information a population encounters and how that can affect their decisions is of great importance.

What are other examples of important decisions that can be affected based on what types of information is offered to a population?

-Jillian

Dervin’s Myths1. Only objective information is valuable

• People rely on easily available sources of information (friends)

• People suffice, stop with ‘good enough’ information

2. More information is always better• Having information is not the same as being informed• Importance of interpreting

3. Objective information can be transmitted out of context• Ignoring isolated facts when we can’t find complete

picture

4. Information can only be acquired through formal sources

• Rare use of formal sources

5. There is relevant information for every need• Information cannot substitute for many human needs

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Dervin’s Myths (cont’d)6. Every need situation has a solution

• Example – hard to find reassurance

7. It is always possible to make information available or accessible

• Limited information systems

8. Functional units of information always fit the individuals• Functional units as responses, solutions, instructions, etc.

9. Time and space can be ignored in addressing information seeking and use

• Worry becomes a need

10. People make easy, conflict-free connections between external information and their internal realities

• We assume an ordered universe

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Group Exercise• Form groups of 3.• Names on top of page and today’s date• 1 topic from items 1-10 of Dervin’s assumptions• Use the Internet, the Case article, your own original ideas• Answer questions

• What are some good examples of this particular myth? Focus on real-world examples – can relate to your major or other everyday topics.

• Provide 3 to 5 well thought out examples• More credit given for thoughtfulness than number of answers

• All things being equal, more credit given for larger number of answers

• Provide sources for all of your examples 18

Mini-presentation (3-5 minutes)

• Choose one representative

• Please stand

• Present a thoughtful synopsis of your findings:• What myth are you addressing?• Describe each answer and its source, one at a

time

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