A study on the effect of information technology on problem solving capability

• Main Authors: Bui, Le Linh, Chen, Zhisheng, Monica Vionna Elysia
• Other Authors: Goh Kim Huat
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: DRNTU::Business::Information technology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/48311
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Technology has immensely grown in the past few decades. Nowadays, it is hardly a case whereby one ought to flip through the books in order to find particular information. Search engines such as “Google” and “Bing” have been constantly used as the source of knowledge. Hence, the question that has become more pertinent is how information and communication technologies could be used efficiently to enhance learning and working outcomes. In this study, we aim to further explore the effect of technology with focus on search engine. The purpose of the study is to find out whether there exists a relation between the aid of search engine and one’s problem solving skill by looking through some relevant factors such as visual support, instant information and external memory effect. To shed light on the matter, we conducted a three-part experiment with students from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and treatments being the above three factors. Through the analysis of the data collected from the experiment, we found out several interesting effects of search engine on one’s problem solving capability. Visual supports negatively affect one’s ability to handle analytical and numerical tasks whereas instant information would cause distraction and reduce reading comprehension capability. Moreover, relying too much on search engine will cause external memory effect, an effect whereby individuals tend to opt to memorize where they can gather information instead of storing the facts in their memory. Lastly, based on these findings, implications and suggestions as how individuals can improve their work efficiency in terms of problem solving capabilities have been included in this report.