KJB Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 First, from Dictionary.Com: re⋅search [ri-surch, ree-surch] Show IPA –noun 1. diligent and systematic inquiry or investigation into a subject in order to discover or revise facts, theories, applications, etc.: recent research in medicine. 2. a particular instance or piece of research. –verb (used without object) 3. to make researches; investigate carefully. –verb (used with object) 4. to make an extensive investigation into: to research a matter thoroughly. The vaccination thread has me wondering.... Many people have stated they have opinions about vaccination based upon their personal "research". So, I am curious, do *you* think you have done "research" by googling? Is "doing my own research" akin to spending a few hours on the internet? Is this (coupled with possibly personal experience/opinion) what diligent and systematic inquiry looks like? What other sources do "lay" people use today to do research and is the internet the reason so many people feel confident making choices contrary to professional opinion in today's world? When you are trying to make a decision and need evidence to sway you, what do you do besides googling? Thanks for indulging me. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen sn Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 I have read books and journal articles written by doctors and I have spoken with doctors, mothers, midwives, etc..... I made my decision LONG before everyone was so computer literate. Now I google in addition to my previous methods when I need to search out information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renee in NC Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 If I wanted true research which did not include me doing my own data collection/experimentation, it wouldn't be through google. The best things out there are peer-reviewed journals. Next are simple collections of data (usually gov't.) That assumes, of course, that the reader accepts the facts and data as reliable (some people don't believe anything a psychologists produces, for example.) I have found that many people are not interested in raw facts, but rather react to emotion. There have been threads in the past where someone has stated an opinion, another poster gives them facts (and links to those raw facts - not blogs and other biased sources), and they still stick to their opinion while offering no evidence to back their position up. Now, I will also admit that for some things, you can find facts, data, and peer-reviewed articles that support both sides of the debate, but often one side has facts and the other side has conjecture and faulty reasoning, usually based in fear or bias. ETA: None of what I said has anything to do with the vaccine thread - I don't have a dog in that fight and don't want to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 I have a read about book about Autism and vaccines which has thorough footnotes. I have read abstracts of studies about vaccines. I am pro-vaccination but have not had my girls get the latest vaccine against genital warts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G5052 Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 I have read books and journal articles written by doctors and I have spoken with doctors, mothers, midwives, etc..... I made my decision LONG before everyone was so computer literate. Now I google in addition to my previous methods when I need to search out information. Google is fine as a sanity check, but the quality of medical information online is always suspect. Personal testimony and "research" done by individuals without a solid medical background is suspect. Not necessarily wrong, but maybe not right either. My DH has very difficult, chronic issues that have challenged some of the top doctors in this country without any real resolution, and people are always bringing us things from Internet that either don't apply to his case at all or are fly-by-night treatments that would just drain our checking account. I know that they're trying to be helpful, but a person who doesn't really understand his case, what we've tried, and how to evaluate treatments isn't going to come up with the answers we'd wish we had via Google. A little knowledge can be dangerous... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 I check out journals, talk with physicians who are older and have seen quite alot in their years as a doctor, and if I can I look at the information collected during a study (the methodology must be reviewed too as some studies are not well done) then I do. Pubmed is my friend :001_smile: I have heard friends say things like, only 100 people or less get Hep B in a year and most live fine with it and it is a s*exually transmitted disease only. Where do they get this stuff, I have no idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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