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ENGL 2 (Dahl): Evaluating Websites

Evaluating Online Medical Information

There is an abundance of medical information on the internet. How do you know what to trust? In this guide you will find guidelines for evaluating online medical information.

Look for recognized authorities.

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  • In general you can trust public institutions and learned societies, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or the American Medical Association (AMA).​
  • Websites ending in .gov or .edu are more reliable and trustworthy than .org or .com. You can use .org or .com sites, just take extra time to fully evaluate the website.
  • Look at the “About Us” page. This page should tell you more about the creator of the content. Are they a government organization, non-profit, professional association, commercial organization, or an individual? An individual should list their qualifications and credentials. Try to determine a commercial website’s motivation.
  • Check outside sources. What do they say about the resource you are looking at? Is there a Wikipedia page that can give you more information?
  • Look for contact information. There should be a way to contact the organization or people who run the site.

 

Look for quality.

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  • What process does the content go through before it is shared? Is there an editorial process? Is the information reviewed? The editorial process might be on the “About Us” page or another page that is easy to locate. The page might say something like “review policy” or “selection policy.”
  • Are the people who run the site or writing the information experts in their field? Look for medical experts with proper qualifications such as M.D. Ph.D. or specialized degree. You might find this information in a section called “About our board/advisors/writers/contributors.” Information should be transparent and easy to locate.

 

Be skeptical.

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  • Beware of “miracle cures,” dramatic breakthroughs, secret ingredients, and sensational claims. If something seems too good to be true it probably is.
  • If you think what you are looking at might be valid, verify the information with other, reliable sources.

Look for evidence.

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  • Don’t trust sources that only offer opinions or testimonials.
  • Look for citations, such as links to studies or a reference section. You should be able to tell the source of any original data or information.

Currency.

  • How current is the information? Though science builds on past discoveries, you will want to find the most current up to date information.
  • Look for dates on web pages such as when the information was published or last updated.
  • Are their lots of broken links? If this is the case then the website may not be maintained or up to date.

Determine the purpose of the information.

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  • Is the site trying to sell you something or make a profit? 
  • Who is funding the site? Is the funding public, private, supplied by donations, or through advertising.
  • Advertising should be clearly labeled with a possible statement about ads and funding.
  • Be aware of who is providing the information. If a drug company is supplying the information about their product, confirm the information from a source not associated with the company.

Other tips.

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  • Don’t provide personal information unless you fully understand what will be done with your information. Privacy policies should be clearly stated.
  • Consult with a health professional if you are seeking advice or treatment about your own medical issue.
  • Avoid getting information from social media unless the information is from a verified account of a trusted resource.

Avoid Information Malpractice

Cherry Pickingcherry

Science is enormously complicated, and an individual research report is just one piece of a larger puzzle. Definitively quoting one story that seems to support your argument while ignoring all the others that do not–whether deliberately or not—will keep you from fully understanding your topic.

Solution

Read widely enough about your subject to make sure you understand it as completely as possible before you report on it. By comparing the work of the experts in a given field, you will develop a clearer picture of what is known and unknown, as well as which areas of inquiry are likely to be most productive.

Treating All Opinions as Equal

An expert in the field of geochemistry likely knows more about hydraulic fracturing than a random commenter on an internet message board. An atmospheric scientist will know more about climate science than a journalist, an economist, or a meteorologist. Don’t give all opinions about your subject equal weight.

Solution

Respect expertise, education, and prestige. Investigate authors and their professional affiliations in order to determine authoritativeness and expertise.

False Equivalence

False equivalence occurs when someone falsely equates an act by one party to the act of another without taking into account all of the underlying differences which may make the comparison inaccurate or invalid. Many times false equivalent arguments are based on anecdotal evidence, not science.

Solution

Always make sure that the comparison you wish to make is supported by the facts of each instance. Also, try not to let your own biases color your interpretation of the facts.

 

Trusted Websites

There are many sites you can trust online. Here are just a few examples:

Verifying Online Information

Below is a series of online verification skills videos. Watch the videos and follow the quick tips and tricks to verifying information you find online.

Videos provided by News Wise.