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Information without knowledge: the effects of Internet search on learning.
Matthew Fisher1, Adam H Smiley2, Tito L H Grillo3
1Department of Marketing, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA.
Memory (Hove, England)
|February 9, 2021
Summary
Relying on Internet search for information hinders memory formation. While searching online makes information seem accessible, it leads to poorer learning outcomes and overconfidence in knowledge acquisition.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Educational Technology
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- The Internet has become a primary source for information retrieval, altering traditional learning methods.
- The cognitive consequences of outsourcing memory to online resources are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of Internet information searching on memory recall in a learning setting.
- To examine whether online searching affects learners' confidence in their knowledge acquisition.
Main Methods:
- Five experiments were conducted where participants studied material for a quiz.
- Participants either searched for information online or received it directly without searching.
- Performance on a learning assessment and self-reported confidence were measured.
Main Results:
- Participants who searched the Internet performed significantly worse on the learning assessment.
- Internet searchers showed reduced internal memory storage of the studied information.
- Despite poorer performance, searchers reported equal or higher confidence in mastery.
Conclusions:
- Making information easily retrievable online may decrease the likelihood of internalizing knowledge.
- Online searching can lead to a misattribution of information, masking deficits in actual learning.
- The study highlights potential negative impacts of Internet reliance on memory and learning.
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