As access to the internet has taken the world by storm so has the availability of information on it; however, not all of this information is of the same caliber! In fact, for every site that includes evidence-based, fact-checked information there are multiple more websites that present readers with pseudo-science at best and disinformation at worst.
In this activity, you will test your keen eye for detail as you research a healthcare topic online and then evaluate it for reliability and accuracy.
Step 1: Search a Healthcare Topic Online
Try to find two different sources with information about this same topic. One should be a more reliable source that you feel presents appropriate information. One should be a less reliable, more biased source that you feel presents misleading information.
Step 2: Answer Questions
In your word processing document, list your two sources and identify which you fell is the most reliable and which you feel shows more bias. Then, using complete sentences, answer these questions:
What are some criteria you use when evaluating the reliability of a healthcare website or source?
How did you use these criteria to evaluate the two sources you found about your healthcare topic?
Discuss the source you feel has more reliable information. What led you to this conclusion?
Discuss the source you feel has less reliable information. What led you to this conclusion?
Some criteria I use when evaluating the reliability of a healthcare website or source include:
1. Authorship: I look for information about the author or organization behind the website or source. I prefer sources written by experts in the field or reputable institutions.
2. Currency: I check when the information was last updated to ensure it is current and not outdated.
3. Accuracy: I verify the information presented with other reliable sources to ensure it is accurate and evidence-based.
4. Citations: I look for sources cited within the content to check the credibility of the information presented.
When evaluating the two sources I found about my healthcare topic, I compared the authorship, currency, accuracy, and citations of each source. The more reliable source I found was a medical journal article written by a doctor specializing in the field of the topic. The article was recently published and provided clear citations to support the information presented.
The less reliable source I found was a blog post written by an anonymous author without any credentials listed. The post contained outdated information and made broad claims without citing any sources. This lack of authorship and evidence made me question the accuracy of the information presented.
In conclusion, I found the medical journal article to have more reliable information due to the author's expertise, recent publication date, and proper citations. On the other hand, the blog post lacked credibility with its anonymous author, outdated information, and lack of sources cited.