The Influence of Search Engines on Critical Thinking and Perception

 This is a student created research guide for English 102 & Library 201 Learning community

This guide explores how platforms like Google shape users critical thinking, information perception, and decision-making.

 This guide will explore how Search engines like Google influence users, critical thinking and perception of information, causing a reliance on search engines rather than independent contemplation.

1. How do search engines influence our ability to focus and have deep critical thinking compared to information mediums like books?
2. What role does search engine reliance play in shaping critical thinking and decision-making?
3. How do search engines impact the way people use traditional research methods and academic sources?

The increasing reliance on search engines has drastically changed how people access, assess and hold onto information. This paper examines the impact of search engines on critical thinking, and perception, bringing forward concerns about user dependence on algorithms rather than independent contemplation. The research examines how search engine’s prioritize information, likely reinforcing biases and shaping opinions without people recognizing it. A  review of existing literature was conducted, analyzing studies on search engine use, including advertising impact, cognitive effects, and user behavior. Most of the research was found through SVC‘s database, Google scholar, and other university websites. Findings show that search engines particularly google encourage surface level comprehension with information where use often except the top ranked results without questioning them. Algorithms are driven by commercial and behavioral factors that reinforce existing views and hinder diverse perspectives. However, the ease of retrieving information reduces our memory retention as users are outsourcing research to digital tools instead of deeper learning. This outsourcing has impacted users, decision-making, and media consumption as we increasingly rely on search engines for our understanding of topics. These findings highlight the need for improved research skills. Users must develop strategies to better evaluate information and control the influence of algorithm biases. 

The Influence of Search Engines on Critical Thinking and Perception

Technology continues to advance rapidly, and users must navigate and adapt to this ever-changing environment. Search engines play an important role in how people access and interact with information, providing quick answers on pretty much any topics. Google, as the search engine with the highest users, shapes how individuals search for, assess , and trust sources. While search engines offer convenience, they also raise concerns about their impact on critical thinking, user behavior, and perception of information

There are many issues associated with search engines but one of them being how they prioritize results based on algorithms which are guided by advertising. This can feed into and reinforce pre-existing beliefs or biases, limiting a broader perspective. This can cause a surface level understanding of complex topics. Another issue, due to the accessibility of information users develop a reliance, instead of retaining facts.

To help combat these effects, users must grow and develop their research strategies to verify sources and improve independent research. While search engines provide a extremely valuable way to access knowledge, users must be responsible for critically thinking about the information they are consuming.

The video explains how Google’s search engine works by acting as an index or library of all the information available on the web. It outlines how Google’s algorithms rank web pages to deliver relevant search results. The video discusses factors such as keywords, page relevance and site authority that determine how search results appear.

“How Google Search Algorithm Works (Index, Searches, Authority).” YouTube, uploaded by Entrepreneurcouch, 19 Apr. 2020, https://youtu.be/xujuTPCyPMI?si=92KaMBQlSbyf-sCt.