%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