Evaluating Real-time Online Research Data (RORD) and Verbatim Quotient Detection (VQD): Low Inference Tools to Monitor Outcomes of Unconstrained Authentic Internet Research

This research evaluated a prototype Internet research support system based on earlier work defining online reading and a model of online reading behavior. The prototype system is embedded with realtime online research data (to capture the participants´ online reading processes and written output) and verbatim quotient detection (to monitor the proportion of verbatim material copied from Internet sources into a final essay). Fifty-seven undergraduate students and one faculty member participated in the experiment. Analysis of online reading activity using the real time data collection system and the verbatim detection tools demonstrated that even with limited time and a common task, when the whole Internet was available there was significant variation in participants´ search strategies, search terms and research processes