Rebecca’s Blog

The first three chapters of Anderson’s and Kanuka’s (2003) e-Research present information that is very familiar to me. They define quality research as being “focused on solutions to an important problem” (p. 3), systematic, and transparent. This seems like common sense to me. Two interesting topics that are raised involve the necessary skills for e-research, and the ethical, moral, and legal checks that are critical when doing e-research. Research is research, but one must learn certain skills when searching the Net. Without these skills, such as knowing Boolean logic, it is easy to waste time looking for information. I have taken many staff development classes in technology, but none of them taught search skills. I have picked those up on my own. Educators should know these skills and should teach them to their students. The issue of ethics is also important for e-research. With increased access to the Net, students have found it easy to plagiarize and cheat. Many schools are trying to find ways to prevent unethical, immoral, and illegal activities on the Net. Some have even suggested censorship or limiting access. I don’t think that this is the answer. It is difficult to force someone to be ethical or moral. Parents and teachers need to teach young people to have the values that promote these attributes. Anderson and Kanuka state, “…it is up to us, as competent e-researchers and principled human beings, to define and practice ethical behavior…personal integrity…self-regulation…openness…honesty…” (p. 56).

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