Examination of the Google Autocomplete Suggestions on Multiculturalism

• In Event: Multicultural Education From Multiple Perspectives

Abstract

This study aimed to provide what Google autocomplete suggests to searchers in terms of multiculturalism and to discuss the significance of the suggestions provided by Google autocomplete. The authors typed search terms involving multiculturalism on Google (such as “multiculturalism is,” “multiculturalism does”). Google AutoComplete’s suggestions were recorded for each search entry. Some interesting results were recorded (such as “multiculturalism should be banned”). In light of the theory of social construction of reality, it was argued that Internet search engines could shape socially constructed reality, such as multiculturalism, by offering certain types of suggestions that would lead to different formations of realities with regard to multiculturalism.

Authors

• Burhanettin Keskin, University of Mississippi

• Casey Hice