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Journal of Experimental Psychology: General
Searching for explanations: How the Internet inflates estimates of internal knowledge
Research summary
Across nine experiments, online search increased participants estimates of their own explanatory knowledge, including on unrelated topics. The studies identify confusion between access to external information and internally held knowledge.
Evidence strengths
- Nine experiments
- Tests multiple alternative explanations
Limitations
- Short-term self-report outcomes
- Does not measure durable learning
Topics
- Cognitive Science
- Learning
- Self
Connected claims
- Supports
Online search can inflate perceived internal understanding by blurring the boundary between accessible external information and knowledge held in memory.
Across nine experiments, searching online increased estimates of personal explanatory knowledge, including for unrelated topics.