Biased Sampling and Causal Estimation of Health-Related Information: Laboratory-Based Experimental Research.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The internet is a relevant source of health-related information. The huge amount of information available on the internet forces users to engage in an active process of information selection. Previous research conducted in the field of experimental psychology showed that information selection itself may promote the development of erroneous beliefs, even if the information collected does not.

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between information searching strategy (ie, which cues are used to guide information retrieval) and causal inferences about health while controlling for the effect of additional information features.

Methods

We adapted a standard laboratory task that has previously been used in research on contingency learni

SUBMITTER: Moreno-Fernandez MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7414405 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature