Date of Award
12-6-2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Journalism, MSMC
First Advisor
Marceline Thompson-Hayes
Committee Members
Manu Bhandari; Myleea Hill
Call Number
LD 251 .A566t 2017 I70
Abstract
The current study observed that the college students’ health information seeking on the Internet was mainly reactive, upon their experience of health issues. They check the online resources mainly to acquire knowledge about their particular health problems. Sometimes the students also google health information proactively, which denoted their extra consciousness about their health and wellness. The college students apply their subjective health knowledge and the Internet skills to make sure that they have retrieved a reliable information that include matching the retrieved information with health symptoms, browsing lists, crosscheck with multiple sources, reputation, interpersonal reference, perceived health belief, past experiences, and etc. This qualitative study has sought to understand how college students determine credibility of the online health information. To this end, the study conducted twelve individual in-depth interviews, using a semi-structured protocol. The study coded the collected data thematically and examined under the theoretical lens of diffusion of innovations.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Islam, Khairul, "Health Information Seeking on The Internet: How Graduate and Senior Level College Students Determine Credibility" (2017). Student Theses and Dissertations. 538.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/538
