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FROM UNLIMITED DATA TO MEANINGFUL INFORMATION
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“We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom. The world henceforth will be run by synthesizers, people able to put together the right information at the right time, think critically about it, and make important choices wisely.” —E.O. Wilso
MINING FOR QUALITY INFORMATION ONLINE
It is not unusual for family, friends, and even acquaintances to question me about health information that they have seen online. I enjoy these conversations as they are interesting and often expose me to new products and services; it’s also exciting to see people taking an interest in healthiness. While I wish more people had access to well-being experts, mining the oceans of online data for meaningful health content provides an alternative, especially when we use methods that help streamline our efforts.
Although online technology makes information easily accessible, we can also be easily overwhelmed by the large volume of information offered. With AI and other emerging technologies, we can expect that volume to grow. Thus, our need for an ability to mine for information successfully and manage it well will also continue to grow. But instead of being overwhelmed, thinking of data as raw material to be gathered, evaluated, and prioritized helps us use it more effectively. Our potential for finding powerful health-building guidance increases by using a systematic approach to assess data.
SIMPLE CRITERIA SEPARATES THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF
Sorting through unfamiliar information might be daunting initially, but like other skills-building efforts, the more often we practice sorting, the easier it is to do.
How do we begin? Simply.
We can identify an article or report of interest and use sorting criteria to evaluate and categorize its strengths. Helpful sorting criteria for health-related topics are summarized in the chart below. Key questions to ask include: Is the information confirmed by expert organizations? Does it include references for research findings? Does it align with other credible reports on the same topic?
This chart can be used as a guide and worksheet. With time and practice, assessing the quality of online health-related information will become second nature without even needing a guide.
Mining for Quality Health-Building Information
Evaluation Criteria & Worksheet
Here’s an example of a health-related resource evaluated with these sorting criteria:
Mining for Quality Health-Building Information
Example Resource: Hemp & Its Benefits
IDENTIFYING VALUABLE ONLINE INFORMATION
Perhaps one of the best reasons for taking time to assess the quality of health-related information is that it hones our ability to recognize advertisements that are masquerading as articles or reports. The advertisements appear credible and without scrutiny are easy to miss. I am surprised by how frequently I point this out in conversations with people who seek my input. Having the capacity to quickly identify quality information also helps protect us from being misguided.
Helping people increase their capacity to prosper in times of accelerated change is a priority of Advanced Wellness Systems. If you or your company want a robust and radical approach for solving modern, health-related challenges, contact us and find out more.
Joyce M. Young, MD, MPH
Managing Director, Advanced Wellness Systems
Lead Expert for the High Health Network
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