%0 Journal Article %T Top-Down Research, Generalists, and Google Scholar: Does Google Scholar Facilitate Breakthrough Research? %A Yellowlees Douglas %J Open Access Library Journal %V 3 %N 5 %P 1-8 %@ 2333-9721 %D 2016 %I Open Access Library %R 10.4236/oalib.1102629 %X
Researchers long ago demonstrated that top-down, inference-based approaches to research have comfortably co-existed with more traditional bottom-up, hypotheses-driven research. Yet most faculty omit any mention of top-down approaches in direct instruction or training of students, despite these approaches being both relatively common, occasionally necessary, and considerably more efficient than traditional bottom-up research. The growing sophistication of search engine algorithms, like those used by Google Scholar, makes possible highly efficient, inter-disciplinary top-down research. This article explores both the existence and operation of top-down approaches to research in the sciences and the ways in which Google Scholar could work with top-down research strategies to transform collaboration and inter-disciplinary research, particularly in the sciences.
%K Abduction %K Reverse Entailment %K Top-Down Research %K Interdisciplinary Research %K Google Scholar %U http://www.oalib.com/paper/5266174