Struggling with creativity? You may be Googling too much, says new study
In a recent study published in the journal Memory & Cognition, researchers asked participants to brainstorm new ways to use one of two common objects—a shield or an umbrella—either with or without internet access. In some trials, study participants could access Google search; in other trials, they couldn't use a search engine.
Of the groups, those with access to Google, for the most part, came up with the same common answers, often in the same exact order.
'[That's because] they relied on Google, while non-Google users came up with more distinct answers,' lead study author Danny Oppenheimer, professor at CMU's Department of Social and Decision Sciences, explained.
That is to say, researchers found that while individual creativity may be enhanced by internet access, groups articulate fewer novel solutions when provided internet access, suggesting that internet access may constrain collective creative fluency.
Said another way: 'Thinking outside the box means thinking outside the search engine.'
This could be an example of 'fixation effects,' where being shown a possible solution influences participants to think of similar answers, but also obstructs them from thinking of new or different answers. For example, Oppenheimer said, when given a prompt such as 'things you might spread,' participants with access to Google might suggest 'butter' or 'jam,' while others who lack internet search access might suggest something along the lines of 'disease' or 'rumors.'
Oppenheimer said we should accept that internet access is changing the way people think and problem solve, but instead of banning search engines, we should learn how to use them better. 'The internet isn't making us dumb, but we may be using it in ways that aren't helpful,' he added.
Oppenheimer and study coauthor Mark Patterson, an assistant teaching professor at CMU's Department of Social and Decision Sciences, think different prompt engineering strategies might lead to different, even better, results.
'Our hope is that by studying how human thought interacts with technology use, we can figure out ways to glean the best of the internet while minimizing the negative consequences,' Patterson said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bloomberg
28 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Villages Health System Sees $350 Million in Medicare Overcharges
A health-care system serving the largest retirement community in the US has filed for bankruptcy after disclosing it potentially overbilled Medicare by at least $350 million, according to court filings. The Villages Health System LLC, which operates clinics for retirees living in the Villages in Central Florida, said in a July 3 court filing that it logged patient diagnoses that 'were not clinically supported or otherwise did not meet Medicare coding and payment guidance.'
Medscape
38 minutes ago
- Medscape
Planned Parenthood Sues Trump Administration Over Planned 'defunding'
(Reuters) -Planned Parenthood sued the Trump administration on Monday over a provision in President Donald Trump's sweeping domestic policy bill that would prevent its health centers from receiving Medicaid reimbursements. In a complaint filed in Boston federal court, Planned Parenthood said the provision is unconstitutional because it singles out members for advocacy for sexual and reproductive health care, including abortions. It also said enforcement would have "catastrophic" consequences for its nearly 600 health centers, and could deprive care to more than 1.1 million of its approximately 2.1 million patients annually. "The true design of the Defund Provision is simply to express disapproval of, attack, and punish Planned Parenthood, which plays a particularly prominent role in the public debate over abortion," Planned Parenthood said. Medicaid is overseen by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither that agency nor the White House immediately responded to requests for comment. The complaint was filed 11 days after the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 vote, cleared the way for South Carolina to deny Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood, saying the applicable federal law did not authorize the group to sue. Monday's lawsuit seeks an injunction to block the government from denying Medicaid funds to "prohibited" entities, including abortion providers and entities receiving more than $800,000 in Medicaid funds in the 2023 fiscal year. Planned Parenthood said it does not provide abortions and has never received Medicaid funds, but the law was specifically drafted to target its members, including those that do not provide abortions. It said the funding provision could force nearly 200 Planned Parenthood health centers in 24 U.S. states to close, with more than 90% in states where abortion is legal. Planned Parenthood said the law violates its members' constitutional rights to free association under the First Amendment and equal protection under the Fifth Amendment. Member groups in Massachusetts and Utah are also plaintiffs. "This case is about making sure that patients who use Medicaid as their insurance to get birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing and treatment can continue to do so at their local Planned Parenthood health center," Planned Parenthood President Alexis McGill Johnson said in a statement. The case is Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc et al v Kennedy et al, U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts, No. 25-11913. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Mark Porter, Chizu Nomiyama and Marguerita Choy)
Medscape
42 minutes ago
- Medscape
Start With the Why: Easing Fears of Cardiac Testing
It's common for patients to schedule an office visit due to symptoms like shortness of breath from doing regular tasks, feeling heart palpitations, experiencing mild chest pain, or feeling weak or unusually tired. During your assessment, if you determine that the patient has an irregular heartbeat, a family history of cardiac conditions, or believe further testing is warranted, realize that a patient could be fearful of cardiac testing. To ease the concerns of your patients, it's important to explain how such testing can diagnose the reason they aren't feeling quite right and how their treatment team can help them feel better. Start With the Why Leaving the trusted environment of a primary care office can be daunting for patients, particularly for those who haven't had cardiac testing before. But explaining why you're suggesting the tests can help a patient understand. "The most important step would be to explain how cardiac testing can be important in order to screen for issues before they become serious," said David Weininger Cohen, MD, a cardiologist with the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami in Florida. He also suggested recounting what symptoms patients are experiencing and how specific tests can investigate what's causing them. Also, explaining that some symptoms may not even be tied to cardiac issues could be another strategy to demonstrate the importance of further testing. "For instance, chest pain is a symptom that becomes a common reason for visits. Most people usually associate chest pain with heart issues, but there are a lot of structures in the chest that can cause pain, not just the heart — cartilage, esophagus, sometimes part of the stomach, skin, and even nerve endings," he said. "Ultimately, cardiac testing is important because it allows the physician to discriminate between cardiac and non-cardiac causes for the patient's symptoms." In addition, reassuring your patients that these experts can diagnose potential issues may also ease their worries, so articulate how such cardiac tests are performed in a controlled environment with trained staff that can anticipate issues and respond quickly if something goes wrong, Weininger Cohen added. Understand Patients Are Fearful of Test Results Some patients are afraid of the results as much as the test. "In those cases, I like to reinforce why the test is necessary and why we're doing it," said Weininger Cohen. "Additionally, I sometimes go through the possible scenarios depending on the results of each test." Knowing what lies ahead, depending on what the test shows, can sometimes be reassuring — you're showing patients you know exactly what the next steps would be. Treat Fears Patient by Patient Although there are some general practice strategies to ease fear regarding cardiac testing, personalizing your approach is also important. "The best way to tackle fear of cardiac testing would be to ask the patient exactly what they're afraid of," said Weininger Cohen. Some patients are going to be afraid of having pain or discomfort during the test. Some patients are afraid of what the results may be, and some patients are afraid of possible complications. "Usually, the best way to approach the topic is to explain the reason for the test and then address the specific fear the patient has," he specified. For example, the best way to describe an EKG would be to explain that it is a test that is trying to capture the electrical activity of the heart. To achieve that, the person performing it is putting sensors on different parts of the patient's body to detect the heart's electrical current from different points, he said. Emphasizing that the test is painless, and that it's just capturing the natural electrical activity of the heart, should put patients at ease. How Can You Best Describe an Echocardiogram? Most patients understand what an ultrasound is, so advising patients that an echocardiogram is simply an ultrasound study of the heart can calm fears. It may also be helpful to share that in some cases, ultrasounds use enhancing agents, referred to as contrast, to get a look at the different structures of the heart, he said. Some patients could be concerned about radiation. "Both tests are radiation free, and this is something that some patients are very interested in knowing before proceeding, especially if they have been previously exposed to radiation through other diagnostic imaging tests or radiotherapy for cancer treatment," Weininger Cohen said. Taking the time to explain both an echocardiogram and an EKG can help your patients understand what to expect and reduce worry and the fear of the unknown. What to Tell Patients Before Referring to a Cardiologist Referring a patient to a specialist like a cardiologist could cause fear. So explain why you're taking this step. Mustafa M. Ahmed, MD "Telling a patient why they need to see a heart expert and how they will add to their overall care can be a helpful first step," said Mustafa M. Ahmed, MD, a cardiologist and professor of medicine, who's also vice chief of research of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and medical director of the Mechanical Circulatory Support Program at the University of Florida in Gainesville. "Assuring them that they won't be losing their primary care doctor, but gaining a specialist to consult with both them and the primary care team, is often a good way to frame expectations." Lifestyle Tweaks You Might Suggest In the context of your discussions with patients regarding their symptoms and recommendations for cardiac testing, Ahmed suggested expressing how diet and exercise, as a part of overall lifestyle changes, can be the most impactful way to prevent heart disease. "Gentle guidance and step-by-step encouragement are often helpful," he said. Also, involving other family members and friends in that journey is another strategy. This may include taking walks, preparing meals together, or embracing a healthier mindset overall.
