Background Research
When we started our search for background information, we quickly realized that it’d be more difficult than anticipated to find similar studies. We began our search with Google.com. We entered travel+GPA+statistics and found a blogged proposal for a study trying to see if there is a correlation between library use and GPA at Colgate University http://maisonbisson.com/blog/post/11950/checkouts-vs-gpa. We also used Google to research going abroad+GPA+statistics which led us to a site about a study of whether or not studying abroad motivates students http://www.frontiersjournal.com/issues/vol10/vol10-12_TrooboffCresseyMonty.pdf.
When we entered GPA+Travel we found sites about traveling information. We also were led to an article about how studying abroad can broaden a student’s college experience. GPA+Travel studies led us to more sites about college students studying abroad. When we entered intelligence level+travel into a Google search, multiple sites came up about how to make intelligent traveling decisions. We also searched distance traveled+intelligence level and articles about the GPS navigation system for cars need improving http://www.gisdevelopment.net/application/utility/transport/utilitytr0022.htm. A site came up when we searched countries traveled+intelligence that discussed how a student only spent $3,305 in American money while traveling to 28 countries in 77 days http://www.btmbeijing.com/contents/en/btm/2006-05/coverstory/travel.
We also entered does traveling make you smarter into a Google web search and we found a site that lists and describes eight vacations that will supposedly make you smarter http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/23906237/. The web site talks about how culture and history can expand your knowledge and intelligence. When we entered travel+stats+grades, a website about understanding space travel came up http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/understanding-spacetravel/. The website included the details of a science research project on understanding space travel for ninth through tenth graders. Under that search, we also found a website about how to grade restaurants and other accommodations http://www.theaa.com/travel/accommodation_restaurants_grading.html.
We tried the search intelligence level+vacation and found nothing similar to our research topic, so we modified it to intelligencelevel+vacation+statistics and found a website about crime and intelligence analysts http://www.calmis.ca.gov/file/occguide/crimanlt.pdf.
Afterwards, we searched intelligence level+travel+statistical studies and found an article in the New York Times about advances in artificial intelligence http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/03/technology/03koller.html?ref=science. We modified the search to increased intelligence due to travel. One result was an article on cbsnews.com about brain exercises that are believed to increase memory abilities http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/28/health/webmd/main4052528.shtml. We also found a website about the Malaysian market http://corporate.tourism.nsw.gov.au/Sites/SiteID6/objLib44/Malaysia%20Market%20Update%20Final.pdf. When we researched the more you travel the more you know on Google, we found a website challenging readers’ knowledge about the world. In conclusion, we were unable to find any studies similar to our own from our research online. There was very little information about our topic.