Thinking About Trends
What Is Trends Analysis?
"..The term "trend analysis" refers to the concept of collecting information and attempting to spot a pattern, or trend, in the information. In some fields of study, the term "trend analysis" has more formally-defined meanings..."[1][2][3]
"...Although trend analysis is often used to predict future events, it could be used to estimate uncertain events in the past, such as how many ancient kings probably ruled between two dates, based on data such as the average years which other known kings reigned..." - Source: Wikipedia
How we think about trends has a lot to do with how we see ourselves, others, our friends and our place in the world. It may also have something to do with whether we have the skill sets to recognize a trend in progress. Malcolm Gladwell may be a trend setter. His books, The Tipping Point, Blink, What the Dog Saw, and the Outliers have been very popular. Gladwell is famous for his "10,000 Hour Rule." This is the idea, presented in the Outliers, that it takes about 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to really master a subject area or skill. "...The idea dates back to work done by Herb Simon in the 1970s. It’s been developed and publicized much further in the decades since, notably by one of Simon’s postdoctoral mentees, Anders Ericsson..." (Source: Michael Nielsen's Blog, Nov. 18, 2008) So here are a few questions for you?
Image Credit: Occupy Wall Street from Google Trends, Search Conducted October 31, 2011
If you wanted to know more about the "10,000 hour concept," what library resources would you use?
Who is Herbert Simon and why is he important? (Hint: Use Academic Search Premier or Business Source Premier).
Search for Full Text, and Peer Reviewed articles.
Who is Anders Ericsson and why is he important? (Hint: Use Google Scholar and search for articles by Karl Anders Ericsson)
How Do We Think About Trends?
Here are some links to Auraria databases and open-web resources about trends as they apply to these present and future worlds. With some databases you'll need to use the database to qualify your resources as "peer-reviewed," or academic. In other cases, you'll need to qualify your sources, independently.
Mobile: Communication and Mass Media Complete
News Sources: America's News - full-text articles from the electronic editions of record for more than 600 U.S. newspapers
Digital: Business Source Premier
Technology: The Horizon Report 2011
Futures Studies or Futorology: Cal State Univ Dominquez Hills
Image Credit: Occupy Wall Street from Google Trends: Search Conducted 3/1/2012
Employment Trends: Vanderbilt University Campus Guides
Global: Pew Global Attitudes Project
Social Issues: Opposing Viewpoints
More Trends: PAIS International
"Malcolm Gladwell on Spaghetti Sauce" at Ted Talks
Pranav Mistry: "The Thrilling Potential of SixthSense Technology" at Ted Talks
Social Issues Research Centre (SIRC) UK
Sand Dunes: A Phenomenon of Wind (from Wayne's Word at Palomar Community College)
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