Searching Using ‘Microsoft® Encarta™’

This paper reports on a study of the effects that cognitive style may exercise on information retrieval strategies. The background to the research project, the nature of cognitive style and the ways in which it may influence the learning process are discussed. Analysis of research data revealed that students' lack of information retrieval skills disallowed wide differences to emerge in terms of searching strategies. Some interesting tendencies and consistent preferences were identified with respect to the Wholist–Analytic style. The paper concludes by considering the possible existence of a searching style and discussing its interpretation.