Self Deception and Web Search
November 6, 2015
It never occurred to me that humans would fool themselves via Web search. I assumed falsely that an individual seeking information would obtain a knowledge pile by reading, conversation with others, and analysis. The idea of using a Web search to get smart never struck me as a good idea. Use of commercial databases to obtain information was a habit I formed at good old Booz, Allen & Hamilton. Ellen Shedlarz, the ace information professional, sort of tolerated my use of the then-expensive, tough to use online services. Favorites sources of information for me in the late 1970s were Compendex, ChemAbs, and my old favorite ABI INFORM.
Imagine my surprise when I read “Googling Stuff Can Cause us to Overestimate our Own Knowledge.” The write up reported:
The main takeaway message of this research is that when we’re called on to provide information without the internet’s help, we need to be aware that we might possess a false sense of security. The most obvious example of how we should apply this is in the run up to a school or university examination. If we only ever prepare for examinations with the internet on hand and don’t take closed book mock tests without the internet’s help, we might not realize until it is too late that information that we think is in our heads actually isn’t.
There you go. False confidence or the Google effect.
From my point of view, the issue is not confined to a particular Web search system. The assumption that anyone can get smart via a query, reading some documents, and answer a question is just one manifestation of entitlement.
The person seeking information assumes that his or her skills are up to the task of figuring out what’s correct, what’s baloney, and what’s important is a facet of the gold star mentality. Everyone gets a reward for going through the motions. Participate in a race. That’s the same as winning the race. Answer some multiple choice questions. That’s the same as working out a math problem in long hand.
Unfortunately it takes real work to learn something, understand it, and apply it to achieve a desired result.
Locating a restaurant via a voice search is nifty, but if the restaurant is a rat hole, one’s tummy may rebel.
Search and retrieval is work. Quick example.
In a casual conversation with a doctoral student, I mentioned the Dark Web.
The student told me, “Yes, I plan to dive into the Dark Web and maybe do a training program for executives.”
Good idea, but the person with whom I was speaking has some interesting characteristics:
- No programming or technical expertise
- No substantive background in security
- No awareness of the risks associated with poking around in hidden Web sites.
However, the person has the entitlement quality. The assumption that an unfamiliar topic can be figured out quickly and easily. What could possibly go wrong?
One possibility: Accessing a Dark Web site operated by a law enforcement or intelligence entity.
As I asked, what could possibly go wrong?
Stephen E Arnold, November 6, 2015
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