Logo
ScienceStack
Table of Contents
Fetching ...
Sign In

Modeling Changes in Individuals' Cognitive Self-Esteem With and Without Access To Search Tools

Mahir Akgun, Sacip Toker

TL;DR

This study examines how access to search tools reshapes cognitive self-esteem (CSE) through a transactive-memory framework, treating the internet as a cognitive partner. Using a within-subject design with four sessions (no-access vs access) and two general-knowledge questions, the authors apply latent growth/change modeling to capture cubic trajectories in CSE and reveal notable individual differences. They find that CSE inflates when search tools are available, particularly among participants with lower initial CSE, and that search self-efficacy fully mediates the link between search experience and CSE at the intercept level, while the slope remains unaffected. The results highlight the need for search-interface designs that promote metacognitive awareness and reflective practices to mitigate overreliance on external memory, with implications for education and human–computer interaction research and practice.

Abstract

Search engines, as cognitive partners, reshape how individuals evaluate their cognitive abilities. This study examines how search tool access influences cognitive self-esteem (CSE)-users' self-perception of cognitive abilities -- through the lens of transactive memory systems. Using a within-subject design with 164 participants, we found that CSE significantly inflates when users have access to search tools, driven by cognitive offloading. Participants with lower initial CSE exhibited greater shifts, highlighting individual differences. Search self-efficacy mediated the relationship between prior search experience and CSE, emphasizing the role of users' past interactions. These findings reveal opportunities for search engine design: interfaces that promote awareness of cognitive offloading and foster self-reflection can support accurate metacognitive evaluations, reducing overreliance on external tools. This research contributes to HCI by demonstrating how interactive systems shape cognitive self-perception, offering actionable insights for designing human-centered tools that balance user confidence and cognitive independence.

Modeling Changes in Individuals' Cognitive Self-Esteem With and Without Access To Search Tools

TL;DR

This study examines how access to search tools reshapes cognitive self-esteem (CSE) through a transactive-memory framework, treating the internet as a cognitive partner. Using a within-subject design with four sessions (no-access vs access) and two general-knowledge questions, the authors apply latent growth/change modeling to capture cubic trajectories in CSE and reveal notable individual differences. They find that CSE inflates when search tools are available, particularly among participants with lower initial CSE, and that search self-efficacy fully mediates the link between search experience and CSE at the intercept level, while the slope remains unaffected. The results highlight the need for search-interface designs that promote metacognitive awareness and reflective practices to mitigate overreliance on external memory, with implications for education and human–computer interaction research and practice.

Abstract

Search engines, as cognitive partners, reshape how individuals evaluate their cognitive abilities. This study examines how search tool access influences cognitive self-esteem (CSE)-users' self-perception of cognitive abilities -- through the lens of transactive memory systems. Using a within-subject design with 164 participants, we found that CSE significantly inflates when users have access to search tools, driven by cognitive offloading. Participants with lower initial CSE exhibited greater shifts, highlighting individual differences. Search self-efficacy mediated the relationship between prior search experience and CSE, emphasizing the role of users' past interactions. These findings reveal opportunities for search engine design: interfaces that promote awareness of cognitive offloading and foster self-reflection can support accurate metacognitive evaluations, reducing overreliance on external tools. This research contributes to HCI by demonstrating how interactive systems shape cognitive self-perception, offering actionable insights for designing human-centered tools that balance user confidence and cognitive independence.
Paper Structure (30 sections, 7 figures, 5 tables)

This paper contains 30 sections, 7 figures, 5 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Internet and cognitive evaluations
  3. Experience, self-esteem, and self-efficacy
  4. Theoretical Framework
  5. The transactive memory system
  6. Bridging Human-Computer Interaction, Transactive Memory Systems, and Cognitive Offloading
  7. Cognitive offloading: the transactive memory partnership with the internet
  8. Cognitive self-esteem: an aspect of self-esteem
  9. Relevant Studies
  10. Present Study
  11. METHOD
  12. Participants
  13. Experimental Design
  14. Selection of general knowledge questions
  15. Experimental Conditions
  16. ...and 15 more sections

Figures (7)

  • Figure 1: The procedures of the study
  • Figure 2: Line graph of all participants’ average CSE scores for each condition
  • Figure 3: The Latent Growth Model of CSE for H1 and H2
  • Figure 4: Estimated LGM of CSE
  • Figure 5: High and Low CSE Groups Average Score Change Comparison
  • ...and 2 more figures