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COMMENTS:
That's true, you have to really focus and be sure it's the fact and not blogs and questionable sites as you said.
Voted : No, Of Course Not
^
"Does Google automatically make everyone a potential expert on all subjects?"
That depends on how legitimate the information on whatever subject you're researching is. It's very important to find the original source since google is, afterall, just a search engine.
Voted : No, Of Course Not
I think some people view Google as the immediate answer to any question. For me it all depends on the topic and how familiar or informed on that topic I may already be. But, there are people who believe that because they did a Google search on a subject, that they know the full and only answer. How? There is such a thing as too much information.
For me, unless I know that the information I already have is accurate, when I do a Google search, I view the results as either factual or not. Of course, a Google search is good for people who want to support their own personal opinions, because they tend to only refer to those results that back up what they believe (hence why often, when pushed, people will admit that their "research" consisted of cherry picking questionable sources and presenting them as factual ones.)
Depending on the scope of the subject, you'd have to spend a great deal of time reading through each result to really be able to present it as fact.
I've also learned that often, results are out-dated and there have been many developments on a topic, so using a current source is important too.
Voted : No, Of Course Not
No, of course not. You also have to master these skills:
1. The art of CUTTING and PASTING (the ULTIMATE and MOST IMPORTANT "skill")
2. Selection of highly biased sources (usually because their view is similar to yours)
3. No reviewing of other sources that might offer a contrary view
4. No fact checking. If this website says it... it must be true!!
5. Suspension of critical thought.
6. Absence or removal of any ability to detect bias.
7. Passing off another person's ideas as your own (see cutting and pasting above)
8. and others
The big problem that I see is that many people lack any ability whatsoever to detect bias or propaganda. They also never do any fact checking. Its easy (and also shows intellectual laziness) just to pick the sites you like and cut and paste.
I noticed that too FiddleFaddle. Many times, I think people have a pre-conceived notion. They have their minds made up either because they have been exposed to falsehoods, bad information or half-truths, or, becauset they have a bias.
Often people will do a Google search and look only for those articles that support what they want to present as fact, even if those sources are nothing more than personal blogs. If they are presented with more newsworthy facts, they will dismiss them somehow.
I think with any form or research, especially when it comes to statistical data, you have to know so many of the variables that went into the conclusions, that you really cannot take those stats at face value. You have to thoroughly research all of the major points of information to know the truth.
I think many people just read a handful of search results and decide that is the answer and then spread it. With the internet, you can spread any false piece of information.
As an experiment, we changed Wiki news pieces. In one, I went in and edited it to read "Chinese government officials routinely eat babies during their state dinners." Do you know that within minutes, it was on-line (we deleted it before it became permanent though).
Voted : No, Of Course Not
HA! Edumacation 'taint all 'bout facks, y'all.
Seriously, it's not. Experience is a big a part of the learning process as raw facts.
^ "*as* big a part". Pardon me. It's early, and I'm old. ;)
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