2.3.2 Poor data quality content: the commercial example

In a study untitled "Of course it’s true I saw it on the Internet!" (Graham, E. L./ Metaxas, P. T. (2003). Of course it’s true I saw it on the Internet!: Critical thinking in the Internet.) aimed at understanding how American students conduct searches the following question was asked: "List three major innovations developed by Microsoft over the past 10 years".

The survey was submitted to 180 college students in the United States during the school year 2000-2001.

As an answer 63% responded by using only one source of information: Microsoft‟s website but is a commercial website a reliable, neutral and trusting source of information?

One thing is sure a company have no interest to critic herself on her own website so it may be high probable that they will tend to sell themselves more than keeping a neutral point of view.

The commercial aspect of search engine will be retaken and more developed in the next chapters.