Conducting Effective Research Using The Internet example essay topic

Critical thinking in today's business environment is not just a tool to get ahead it is a necessary skill to survive. The article reviewed talks about using this ability by conducting effective research via the Internet. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the article and discuss how the authors dealt with the following elements: perception, assumption, emotion, language, argument, fallacy, logic, and issue / problem resolution. Only those components with clear examples will be cited. Summary The article is named, "The Age of Clutter: Conducting Effective Research Using the Internet", and is written by Charles J. Fornaciari and Maria F. Loffredo-Roca. This piece is about how using the internet as a research tool presents new challenges such as coping with information overload and obtaining then evaluating quality sources.

The article briefly describes the problems related to conducting research on the Internet. It then proposes a solution to help individuals conduct effective and efficient internet-based business research. The reading also touches on how and why today's business student, professionals and faculty have such troubles. Analysis The perception of the authors about how today's students utilize critical thinking is a negative one.

Fornaciari and Loffredo-Roca make the point that too often the assumption is made that information and knowledge are one in the same. The writers state that this is an easy mistake to make considering the extraordinary amount of information readily available. The fallacy presented within the "Age of Clutter" article is the widely held belief that research is done more effectively and efficiently because of the Internet. Quite to the contrary according to the writers it is because of the overload of accessible information that ends up muddling the fact gathering process. Critical thinking skills would not be required if not for the overabundance of insignificant details that buries pertinent research facts. The argument made by the writers is that students, professionals, and faculty alike require similar training with respect to gaining knowledge of the technology.

Understanding the proper use of Internet-based filter tools ultimately has an enormous influence on the kind of facts that the researcher sees. The example is put forth by the authors that some tools aim to be broad in coverage, while others seek to cover a specific knowledge base. Language comes into play when one recognizes that this is computer vernacular being spoken about. There are specific terms and intricacies that even the most experienced online researchers may not find immediately evident. Even the most comprehensive filter tools suffer from an inability to keep current with updates, changes and additions to web sites. Finally, the issue / problem resolution that Fornaciari and Loffredo-Roca put forward is based in logic.

They assert that research needs to be a mindful (attentive) activity and the most commonly used proposed solutions do not fall under this characterization. The resolutions tend to be generic, static, shallow evaluation mechanisms rather than individual, dynamic, thoughtful meaning-making systems. The authors insist that perusing a lengthy list of potential web sites rapidly becomes a mindless activity. The way to battle this is to realize that mindful choices are at least perceived to offer some benefits. Students should be educated on how to make mindful choices by being shown a model of effective research and taken through the process that led to the product.

This will help students sift through the clutter to get to essential information. Conclusion The writers of the article did a good job of addressing the elements of critical thinking where it concerns Internet research. The one characteristics excluded was emotion because it did not relate to the subject of the article. There is definitely one good point that Charles Fornaciari and Maria Loffredo-Roca (the authors) are correct about. Taking a mindful approach to research on a regular basis, can help today's student and professional not only survive but thrive in an age of clutter. Reference Fornaciari, C. & Loffredo-Roca, M. (1999).

Journal of Management Education, 732 Retrieved October 18, 2003 from the World Wide Web: web.