Online Research In The 1800s

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I have grown up with Google as a verb. Need directions? Google it. Need a recipe? Google it. Find the cheapest gas station? Google it. Embracing technology and advancement are critical to the upcoming generation; utilizing these preferences will determine if the outcome is beneficial and detrimental to humans. A person aspiration determines the utilization or the restraints of one's mind. Badke illustrates how research was done in 1800s; “learned book purchasers took the time to cut the pages of their new books, even to rebind them in their personal library colors, before spending many hours reading them slowly.”(online) This statement assumes this is the only and proper way to research. I disagree essentially this is the same as cutting and pasting in a word document, just …show more content…

Even in the 1800s, an individual could go about the above process as a mindless task. An unknown factor then, and consistent today, is the level of comprehension, contemplating and reading, during this process. Badke claims, “most students choose the "good enough" of picking from the first few results.”(online) Because online research is about ease and accessibility, I agree impulse is to pick the first few results. However, deeper understanding is available; the key is the aspiration of the individual who drives the selection process. Unlike in 1800s, online research often times offers an abstracts that can help determine if the article addresses the legitimate research. The time it takes to identify to source should not regulate the value of the source. To achieve a high depth is learning; one must question, ponder and mediate. Devoting time to increase knowledge has nothing to do with search engines