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“Google is not fun” : an investigation of how Swedish teenagers frame online searching

Andersson, Cecilia LU (2017) In Journal of Documentation 73(6). p.1244-1260
Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of Google in everyday online searching activities of Swedish teenagers in different contexts. Design/methodology/approach: The study is qualitative and material has been produced through interviews and observations in two different schools with participants aged 15-16. Goffman’s frame analysis provides the analytical lens for studying how activities are assigned meaning. Findings: Three different framings in relation to using Google and googling are identified in the material: Google and fact-finding, Google as a neutral infrastructure, and Google as an authority. There is an interplay between activity, context, and interaction in defining the role of Google. In relation to... (More)

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of Google in everyday online searching activities of Swedish teenagers in different contexts. Design/methodology/approach: The study is qualitative and material has been produced through interviews and observations in two different schools with participants aged 15-16. Goffman’s frame analysis provides the analytical lens for studying how activities are assigned meaning. Findings: Three different framings in relation to using Google and googling are identified in the material: Google and fact-finding, Google as a neutral infrastructure, and Google as an authority. There is an interplay between activity, context, and interaction in defining the role of Google. In relation to school, the fact-finding framing is more pronounced whereas the infrastructure framing comes forth more in their free time activities. The authority framing cuts across both framings and underpins their trust in the search engine. Originality/value: The study addresses the way that Google is embedded in online activities and how the search engine is viewed in various contexts, as well as how it is made invisible in some contexts. Previous research has not addressed Google’s role in specific in relation to various everyday uses.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Everyday life, Goffman, Google, Schools, Search engines, Searching, Teenagers, Youth
in
Journal of Documentation
volume
73
issue
6
pages
17 pages
publisher
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
external identifiers
  • wos:000412873700009
  • scopus:85031122189
ISSN
0022-0418
DOI
10.1108/JD-03-2017-0048
project
Knowledge in a Digital World: Trust, Credibility and Relevance on the Web
Out/sourcing Knowledge
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
1795a4db-fabd-4abe-ae75-09f29d545e87
date added to LUP
2017-10-30 08:28:24
date last changed
2024-04-14 21:18:20
@article{1795a4db-fabd-4abe-ae75-09f29d545e87,
  abstract     = {{<p>Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of Google in everyday online searching activities of Swedish teenagers in different contexts. Design/methodology/approach: The study is qualitative and material has been produced through interviews and observations in two different schools with participants aged 15-16. Goffman’s frame analysis provides the analytical lens for studying how activities are assigned meaning. Findings: Three different framings in relation to using Google and googling are identified in the material: Google and fact-finding, Google as a neutral infrastructure, and Google as an authority. There is an interplay between activity, context, and interaction in defining the role of Google. In relation to school, the fact-finding framing is more pronounced whereas the infrastructure framing comes forth more in their free time activities. The authority framing cuts across both framings and underpins their trust in the search engine. Originality/value: The study addresses the way that Google is embedded in online activities and how the search engine is viewed in various contexts, as well as how it is made invisible in some contexts. Previous research has not addressed Google’s role in specific in relation to various everyday uses.</p>}},
  author       = {{Andersson, Cecilia}},
  issn         = {{0022-0418}},
  keywords     = {{Everyday life; Goffman; Google; Schools; Search engines; Searching; Teenagers; Youth}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{1244--1260}},
  publisher    = {{Emerald Group Publishing Limited}},
  series       = {{Journal of Documentation}},
  title        = {{“Google is not fun” : an investigation of how Swedish teenagers frame online searching}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JD-03-2017-0048}},
  doi          = {{10.1108/JD-03-2017-0048}},
  volume       = {{73}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}