The browser extension guidance for online information searching
ISSN: 0264-0473
Article publication date: 1 June 2023
Issue publication date: 24 July 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to develop and test a browser extension as a scaffolding tool to guide learners about evaluating online sources.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 129 undergraduate students participated in this experimental study. Both groups completed two Web searching tasks, but the experimental group used a browser extension.
Findings
The results indicated that there are significant differences between groups in terms of the number of accurate sources and visited sites. There were no differences neither in the success status nor the access time. The browser extension guidance affected certain search parameters, but this effect seemed to be diminished in accordance with students’ cognitive abilities as well as their digital literacy levels.
Research limitations/implications
The participants were from a vocational school, so any other study with different participants might reveal different findings.
Practical implications
The browser extension is convenient to be used with regards to interface and instructions. It can serve as a self-training tool with small changes in the code. The intervals and types of messages can be customized in line with the users’ needs.
Social implications
The approach used in this study can contribute to the dissemination of misleading information on the Web. People of any age can use and benefit from this approach via a simple extension.
Originality/value
The extension can serve as a fundamental framework for the construction of adaptive or smart extensions. As this study revealed the importance of both cognitive abilities and digital literacy levels, the extension can be enriched with the inclusion of cognitive scaffolding.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
* This study is part of an unpublished master’s thesis.
**The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Ethics declarations.
Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Ethical approval: This study was approved by the social sciences ethics committee of the university.
Informed consent: Informed consent was acquired from all participants. They completely involved in the study voluntarily. They were informed that they could leave the experiment whenever they want.
Citation
Efendioğlu, E. and Sendurur, E. (2023), "The browser extension guidance for online information searching", The Electronic Library, Vol. 41 No. 4, pp. 438-455. https://doi.org/10.1108/EL-01-2023-0026
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited