The cognitive authority of user-generated health information in an online forum for girls and young women
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of one particular online discussion forum as a potentially authoritative health information source for its users. The concept of cognitive authority is used as a starting point for understanding information evaluation in this context. The focu...
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| Veröffentlicht in: | Journal of documentation 2019-01, Vol.75 (1), p.78-98 |
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| creator | Hirvonen, Noora Tirroniemi, Alisa Kortelainen, Terttu |
| description | Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of one particular online discussion forum as a potentially authoritative health information source for its users. The concept of cognitive authority is used as a starting point for understanding information evaluation in this context. The focus is placed on the types of information users seek for from this forum, the ways they assess the credibility of information obtained, and their views on the impact of this information.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical data were collected with a questionnaire survey from the users of a Finnish online forum for girls and young women (n=290). The data were analyzed qualitatively with content analytic techniques and quantitatively by using descriptive analysis.
Findings
The forum was found to offer girls and young women the possibility to receive health information from peers. It was viewed as an appropriate source for experiential rather than factual health information and used to find information on sexuality, bodily functions and diets, for example. Author-related cues, argumentation and tone, veracity and verification were recognized as means to evaluate information credibility. Credibility evaluation was found to be linked with conceptions of the forum and the type of information sought. A share of the respondents recognized the information obtained to have influence on their thinking or behavior.
Originality/value
Based on the findings, it can be argued that the members of the online forum – individually or collectively – can act as cognitive authorities for other users. The findings cannot be generalized beyond this online forum, to Finnish girls or young women, or even the users of the online forum. However, they provide insights into the ways young people evaluate user-generated information in a particular online setting and domain of knowledge and as such contribute to research on cognitive authority, credibility evaluation and information literacy. |
| doi_str_mv | 10.1108/JD-05-2018-0083 |
| format | Article |
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The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of one particular online discussion forum as a potentially authoritative health information source for its users. The concept of cognitive authority is used as a starting point for understanding information evaluation in this context. The focus is placed on the types of information users seek for from this forum, the ways they assess the credibility of information obtained, and their views on the impact of this information.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical data were collected with a questionnaire survey from the users of a Finnish online forum for girls and young women (n=290). The data were analyzed qualitatively with content analytic techniques and quantitatively by using descriptive analysis.
Findings
The forum was found to offer girls and young women the possibility to receive health information from peers. It was viewed as an appropriate source for experiential rather than factual health information and used to find information on sexuality, bodily functions and diets, for example. Author-related cues, argumentation and tone, veracity and verification were recognized as means to evaluate information credibility. Credibility evaluation was found to be linked with conceptions of the forum and the type of information sought. A share of the respondents recognized the information obtained to have influence on their thinking or behavior.
Originality/value
Based on the findings, it can be argued that the members of the online forum – individually or collectively – can act as cognitive authorities for other users. The findings cannot be generalized beyond this online forum, to Finnish girls or young women, or even the users of the online forum. However, they provide insights into the ways young people evaluate user-generated information in a particular online setting and domain of knowledge and as such contribute to research on cognitive authority, credibility evaluation and information literacy.</description><identifier>ISSN: 0022-0418</identifier><identifier>EISSN: 1758-7379</identifier><identifier>DOI: 10.1108/JD-05-2018-0083</identifier><language>eng</language><publisher>Bradford: Emerald Publishing Limited</publisher><subject>Authors ; Beliefs ; Community Relations ; Credibility ; Education Work Relationship ; Empirical analysis ; Girls ; Health ; Influence ; Information literacy ; Information Seeking ; Information seeking behavior ; Information sources ; Knowledge ; Literature Reviews ; Mental health ; Reputation ; Reputations ; Self image ; Social Media ; Social networks ; Social research ; Trust ; Virtual communities ; Young adults</subject><ispartof>Journal of documentation, 2019-01, Vol.75 (1), p.78-98</ispartof><rights>Emerald Publishing Limited</rights><rights>Emerald Publishing Limited 2019</rights><lds50>peer_reviewed</lds50><oa>free_for_read</oa><woscitedreferencessubscribed>false</woscitedreferencessubscribed><citedby>FETCH-LOGICAL-c349t-1fe66837ba2b9d86cc883757b6c6011e8a3d41c7f02ec6b0493ed4f07131f14f3</citedby><cites>FETCH-LOGICAL-c349t-1fe66837ba2b9d86cc883757b6c6011e8a3d41c7f02ec6b0493ed4f07131f14f3</cites><orcidid>0000-0001-7577-3057</orcidid></display><links><openurl>$$Topenurl_article</openurl><openurlfulltext>$$Topenurlfull_article</openurlfulltext><thumbnail>$$Tsyndetics_thumb_exl</thumbnail><linktohtml>$$Uhttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JD-05-2018-0083/full/html$$EHTML$$P50$$Gemerald$$H</linktohtml><link.rule.ids>314,776,780,961,11614,27901,27902,52664</link.rule.ids></links><search><creatorcontrib>Hirvonen, Noora</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Tirroniemi, Alisa</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Kortelainen, Terttu</creatorcontrib><title>The cognitive authority of user-generated health information in an online forum for girls and young women</title><title>Journal of documentation</title><description>Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of one particular online discussion forum as a potentially authoritative health information source for its users. The concept of cognitive authority is used as a starting point for understanding information evaluation in this context. The focus is placed on the types of information users seek for from this forum, the ways they assess the credibility of information obtained, and their views on the impact of this information.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical data were collected with a questionnaire survey from the users of a Finnish online forum for girls and young women (n=290). The data were analyzed qualitatively with content analytic techniques and quantitatively by using descriptive analysis.
Findings
The forum was found to offer girls and young women the possibility to receive health information from peers. It was viewed as an appropriate source for experiential rather than factual health information and used to find information on sexuality, bodily functions and diets, for example. Author-related cues, argumentation and tone, veracity and verification were recognized as means to evaluate information credibility. Credibility evaluation was found to be linked with conceptions of the forum and the type of information sought. A share of the respondents recognized the information obtained to have influence on their thinking or behavior.
Originality/value
Based on the findings, it can be argued that the members of the online forum – individually or collectively – can act as cognitive authorities for other users. The findings cannot be generalized beyond this online forum, to Finnish girls or young women, or even the users of the online forum. However, they provide insights into the ways young people evaluate user-generated information in a particular online setting and domain of knowledge and as such contribute to research on cognitive authority, credibility evaluation and information literacy.</description><subject>Authors</subject><subject>Beliefs</subject><subject>Community Relations</subject><subject>Credibility</subject><subject>Education Work Relationship</subject><subject>Empirical analysis</subject><subject>Girls</subject><subject>Health</subject><subject>Influence</subject><subject>Information literacy</subject><subject>Information Seeking</subject><subject>Information seeking behavior</subject><subject>Information sources</subject><subject>Knowledge</subject><subject>Literature Reviews</subject><subject>Mental health</subject><subject>Reputation</subject><subject>Reputations</subject><subject>Self image</subject><subject>Social Media</subject><subject>Social networks</subject><subject>Social research</subject><subject>Trust</subject><subject>Virtual communities</subject><subject>Young adults</subject><issn>0022-0418</issn><issn>1758-7379</issn><fulltext>true</fulltext><rsrctype>article</rsrctype><creationdate>2019</creationdate><recordtype>article</recordtype><sourceid>AVQMV</sourceid><sourceid>BENPR</sourceid><sourceid>K50</sourceid><sourceid>M1D</sourceid><recordid>eNptkTtPwzAQxy0EEqUws1pidnuO83BH1PKqKrGU2XKTc-IqsYuTgPrtcVUWJJZ7_--k3xFyz2HGOcj5esUgYwlwyQCkuCATXmSSFaJYXJIJQJIwSLm8Jjd9vwfgsSEnxG4bpKWvnR3sF1I9Do0PdjhSb-jYY2A1Ogx6wIo2qNuhodYZHzo9WO9iTLWj3rXWIY3lsTtZWtvQ9rFT0aMfXU2_fYfullwZ3fZ49-un5OP5abt8ZZv3l7fl44aVIl0MjBvMcymKnU52i0rmZSljlhW7vMyBc5RaVCkvCwMJlvkO0oXAKjVQcMENT42Ykofz3kPwnyP2g9r7Mbh4UiU8yyKqIkvi1Pw8VQbf9wGNOgTb6XBUHNSJp1qvFGTqxFOdeEbF7KzALgJpq38Efx4gfgAUbnaq</recordid><startdate>20190114</startdate><enddate>20190114</enddate><creator>Hirvonen, Noora</creator><creator>Tirroniemi, Alisa</creator><creator>Kortelainen, Terttu</creator><general>Emerald Publishing Limited</general><general>Emerald Group Publishing Limited</general><scope>AAYXX</scope><scope>CITATION</scope><scope>0-V</scope><scope>7WY</scope><scope>7WZ</scope><scope>7XB</scope><scope>8AO</scope><scope>8FE</scope><scope>8FG</scope><scope>ABUWG</scope><scope>AFKRA</scope><scope>ALSLI</scope><scope>ARAPS</scope><scope>AVQMV</scope><scope>AZQEC</scope><scope>BENPR</scope><scope>BEZIV</scope><scope>BGLVJ</scope><scope>CCPQU</scope><scope>CJNVE</scope><scope>CNYFK</scope><scope>DWQXO</scope><scope>E3H</scope><scope>F2A</scope><scope>F~G</scope><scope>GNUQQ</scope><scope>HCIFZ</scope><scope>JQ2</scope><scope>K50</scope><scope>K6~</scope><scope>K7-</scope><scope>L.-</scope><scope>M0C</scope><scope>M0P</scope><scope>M1D</scope><scope>M1O</scope><scope>P5Z</scope><scope>P62</scope><scope>PQBIZ</scope><scope>PQEDU</scope><scope>PQEST</scope><scope>PQQKQ</scope><scope>PQUKI</scope><scope>Q9U</scope><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7577-3057</orcidid></search><sort><creationdate>20190114</creationdate><title>The cognitive authority of user-generated health information in an online forum for girls and young women</title><author>Hirvonen, Noora ; Tirroniemi, Alisa ; Kortelainen, Terttu</author></sort><facets><frbrtype>5</frbrtype><frbrgroupid>cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-c349t-1fe66837ba2b9d86cc883757b6c6011e8a3d41c7f02ec6b0493ed4f07131f14f3</frbrgroupid><rsrctype>articles</rsrctype><prefilter>articles</prefilter><language>eng</language><creationdate>2019</creationdate><topic>Authors</topic><topic>Beliefs</topic><topic>Community Relations</topic><topic>Credibility</topic><topic>Education Work Relationship</topic><topic>Empirical analysis</topic><topic>Girls</topic><topic>Health</topic><topic>Influence</topic><topic>Information literacy</topic><topic>Information Seeking</topic><topic>Information seeking behavior</topic><topic>Information sources</topic><topic>Knowledge</topic><topic>Literature Reviews</topic><topic>Mental health</topic><topic>Reputation</topic><topic>Reputations</topic><topic>Self image</topic><topic>Social Media</topic><topic>Social networks</topic><topic>Social research</topic><topic>Trust</topic><topic>Virtual communities</topic><topic>Young adults</topic><toplevel>peer_reviewed</toplevel><toplevel>online_resources</toplevel><creatorcontrib>Hirvonen, Noora</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Tirroniemi, Alisa</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Kortelainen, Terttu</creatorcontrib><collection>CrossRef</collection><collection>ProQuest Social Sciences Premium Collection</collection><collection>ABI/INFORM Collection</collection><collection>ABI/INFORM Global (PDF only)</collection><collection>ProQuest Central (purchase pre-March 2016)</collection><collection>ProQuest Pharma Collection</collection><collection>ProQuest SciTech Collection</collection><collection>ProQuest Technology Collection</collection><collection>ProQuest Central (Alumni Edition)</collection><collection>ProQuest Central UK/Ireland</collection><collection>Social Science Premium Collection</collection><collection>Advanced Technologies & Aerospace Collection</collection><collection>Arts Premium Collection</collection><collection>ProQuest Central Essentials</collection><collection>ProQuest Central</collection><collection>Business Premium Collection</collection><collection>Technology Collection</collection><collection>ProQuest One Community College</collection><collection>Education Collection</collection><collection>Library & Information Science Collection</collection><collection>ProQuest Central Korea</collection><collection>Library & Information Sciences Abstracts (LISA)</collection><collection>Library & Information Science Abstracts (LISA)</collection><collection>ABI/INFORM Global (Corporate)</collection><collection>ProQuest Central Student</collection><collection>SciTech Premium Collection</collection><collection>ProQuest Computer Science Collection</collection><collection>Art, Design & Architecture Collection</collection><collection>ProQuest Business Collection</collection><collection>Computer Science Database</collection><collection>ABI/INFORM Professional Advanced</collection><collection>ABI/INFORM Global</collection><collection>Education Database</collection><collection>Arts & Humanities Database</collection><collection>Library Science Database</collection><collection>Advanced Technologies & Aerospace Database</collection><collection>ProQuest Advanced Technologies & Aerospace Collection</collection><collection>ProQuest One Business</collection><collection>ProQuest One Education</collection><collection>ProQuest One Academic Eastern Edition (DO NOT USE)</collection><collection>ProQuest One Academic</collection><collection>ProQuest One Academic UKI Edition</collection><collection>ProQuest Central Basic</collection><jtitle>Journal of documentation</jtitle></facets><delivery><delcategory>Remote Search Resource</delcategory><fulltext>fulltext</fulltext></delivery><addata><au>Hirvonen, Noora</au><au>Tirroniemi, Alisa</au><au>Kortelainen, Terttu</au><format>journal</format><genre>article</genre><ristype>JOUR</ristype><atitle>The cognitive authority of user-generated health information in an online forum for girls and young women</atitle><jtitle>Journal of documentation</jtitle><date>2019-01-14</date><risdate>2019</risdate><volume>75</volume><issue>1</issue><spage>78</spage><epage>98</epage><pages>78-98</pages><issn>0022-0418</issn><eissn>1758-7379</eissn><abstract>Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of one particular online discussion forum as a potentially authoritative health information source for its users. The concept of cognitive authority is used as a starting point for understanding information evaluation in this context. The focus is placed on the types of information users seek for from this forum, the ways they assess the credibility of information obtained, and their views on the impact of this information.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical data were collected with a questionnaire survey from the users of a Finnish online forum for girls and young women (n=290). The data were analyzed qualitatively with content analytic techniques and quantitatively by using descriptive analysis.
Findings
The forum was found to offer girls and young women the possibility to receive health information from peers. It was viewed as an appropriate source for experiential rather than factual health information and used to find information on sexuality, bodily functions and diets, for example. Author-related cues, argumentation and tone, veracity and verification were recognized as means to evaluate information credibility. Credibility evaluation was found to be linked with conceptions of the forum and the type of information sought. A share of the respondents recognized the information obtained to have influence on their thinking or behavior.
Originality/value
Based on the findings, it can be argued that the members of the online forum – individually or collectively – can act as cognitive authorities for other users. The findings cannot be generalized beyond this online forum, to Finnish girls or young women, or even the users of the online forum. However, they provide insights into the ways young people evaluate user-generated information in a particular online setting and domain of knowledge and as such contribute to research on cognitive authority, credibility evaluation and information literacy.</abstract><cop>Bradford</cop><pub>Emerald Publishing Limited</pub><doi>10.1108/JD-05-2018-0083</doi><tpages>21</tpages><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7577-3057</orcidid><oa>free_for_read</oa></addata></record> |
| fulltext | fulltext |
| identifier | ISSN: 0022-0418 |
| ispartof | Journal of documentation, 2019-01, Vol.75 (1), p.78-98 |
| issn | 0022-0418 1758-7379 |
| language | eng |
| recordid | cdi_emerald_primary_10_1108_JD-05-2018-0083 |
| source | Emerald Journals |
| subjects | Authors Beliefs Community Relations Credibility Education Work Relationship Empirical analysis Girls Health Influence Information literacy Information Seeking Information seeking behavior Information sources Knowledge Literature Reviews Mental health Reputation Reputations Self image Social Media Social networks Social research Trust Virtual communities Young adults |
| title | The cognitive authority of user-generated health information in an online forum for girls and young women |
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