The Google generation: the information behaviour of the researcher of the future

Rowlands, Ian, Nicholas, David, Williams, Peter, Huntington, Paul, Fieldhouse, Maggie, Gunter, Barrie, Withey, Richard, Jamali, Hamid, Dobrowolski, Tom and Tenopir, Carol (2008) The Google generation: the information behaviour of the researcher of the future. Aslib Proceedings, 60 (4). pp. 290-310. ISSN 0001-253X

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Abstract

Purpose – This article is an edited version of a report commissioned by the British Library and JISC to identify how the specialist researchers of the future (those born after 1993) are likely to access and interact with digital resources in five to ten years' time. The purpose is to investigate the impact of digital transition on the information behaviour of the Google Generation and to guide library and information services to anticipate and react to any new or emerging behaviours in the most effective way.

Design/methodology/approach – The study was virtually longitudinal and is based on a number of extensive reviews of related literature, survey data mining and a deep log analysis of a British Library and a JISC web site intended for younger people.

Findings – The study shows that much of the impact of ICTs on the young has been overestimated. The study claims that although young people demonstrate an apparent ease and familiarity with computers, they rely heavily on search engines, view rather than read and do not possess the critical and analytical skills to assess the information that they find on the web.

Originality/value – The paper reports on a study that overturns the common assumption that the “Google generation” is the most web-literate.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Information retrieval, internet, students, young adults
Subjects:	P100 Information Services
Department:	Faculties > Engineering and Environment > Computer and Information Sciences Faculties > Business and Law > Newcastle Business School
Depositing User:	Ellen Cole
Date Deposited:	13 Dec 2013 08:47
Last Modified:	19 Nov 2019 09:54
URI:	http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/14782

Downloads