Easily Accessible but Easily Forgettable: How Ease of Access to Information Online Affects Cognitive Miserliness

Ubiquitous Internet access has provided easy access to information and has influenced users' attention and knowledge management. In an online information service context, this research examines how the perception of easy access to information affects strategies to learn two types of information: what it is and how to access it. This study also examines how the learning process is moderated by individual differences in working memory capacity, which can determine efficient management of attentional resources. The results show that individuals, especially those who rank high in working memory capacity, are less likely to remember the details but are more likely to remember how to access the information (e.g., a keyword for a search engine query). Those with higher working memory capacity are also more likely to ensure easy access to information by subscribing to information sources. The findings suggest that cognitive miserliness is not due to users' lack of cognitive capacity but to the accessibility of online information and efficient execution of attentional resources. Public Significance Statement The present research suggests that easy access to information online may mean that individuals are less likely to remember the details but are more likely to remember how to access the information. This effect is especially profound among individuals who rank high in working memory capacity as they are likely to efficiently manage their attentional resources