4.19: Health Information
- Page ID
- 116204
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Most of us, when researching a health problem that affects our family or a public health topic for a paper aren't going to conduct a research experiment or gather primary data. We are going to rely on published information. So it's important to know where you can get health information and how to decide if you can trust the information you find.
We'll look at how to evaluate the reliability of health information you find on the Internet and how to access the library online resources. For those of you who are experienced in research, this may be review - while for others, it may be new information.
One good place to start: Many college libraries offer a research guide for public health or health education. For example, check out this Health Education Research Guide from the CCSF Library website.
Libraries also are staffed by librarians! Stopping by a library, phoning, or chatting online with a reference librarian about your topic can save you a lot of time, as librarians can guide you in your search for information.
Evaluating Health Information on the Internet
As recent controversies have shown, bad information on the Internet can cause serious problems. When there is a lot of money to be made and/or strong ideological positions, it can be quite difficult to find reliable information. Web sites that look legitimate sometimes aren't.
How do you know what information to trust? Use the CRAAP test!
Check for reliability: The CRAAP Test
Our library recommends the "CRAAP Test" to see whether a website is a reliable source or not. It's very useful!
C=Currency: How current is the information? And how important is it, that the information be current? If you are looking up a list of state capitals, well, that hasn't changed in a long while -- a website from 10 years ago will probably be fine. If you are looking for information on the effectiveness of masks at preventing the spread of Covid-19, the information from a year ago is likely to be out of date already. In general, I encourage you to use sources that are no more than 6 years old, unless the source is something of a "classic" or one that has had a large influence.
R=Relevance. Is this information relevant to what you are researching? Is it at the right level (not too basic, not too advanced)? Does it answer your main questions? How does it relate to the other sources you have read?
A=Authority. Who wrote this? Do they know what they are talking about? Are they part of an institution you can trust? Is the work peer-reviewed? This is often the most important criteria to consider, in my opinion.
A=Accuracy. How accurate is the information? Does the author show how they reached their conclusions? Do they show their evidence? Is the information presented in a way that shows a bias, or is it closer to objective?
P=Purpose. What is the purpose or motivation of the person publishing this? Is it to sell a product? To sell an idea or win an argument? How does it compare to other sources you have reviewed?