Younger People are More Analytical While Addressing Heath Problem on Search Engines

Younger people are more likely to use an analytical approach in search engines until they have achieved the desired results, compared to older people, suggested a new study by researchers at University of Miami. Joseph Sharit of University of Miami said, "This type of sustained online information-seeking could be more cognitively taxing for users than simple search tasks because they must find, filter, comprehend, and integrate health information that was often distributed across multiple sources."

For the research, Sharit and fellow researchers Jessica Taha, Ronald Berkowsky, Halley Profita, and Sara asked 60 adults between the ages of 18 and 85 years to complete cognitive ability tests that measured skills such as processing time, reasoning ability, and executive function. The study participants were asked to use the internet to research and answer a series of questions related to a complex health information problem. Their responses were evaluated on the basis of age, internet experience, and cognitive test results.

It was seen that younger participants and those who scored higher on the cognitive tests were more likely to use an analytical approach by manipulating key words in search engines until they achieved the desired results. However, the older participants took longer to complete their tasks, their searches were more efficient and their responses were just as accurate as those of the younger respondents.

Sharit said, "Despite the increasing power of search engines, it should not be underestimated how difficult health-related problem solving using the internet could be for many individuals. Consideration should be given to new ways of supporting consumers of health information, especially older adults, who were susceptible to normal age-related declines in cognitive abilities."

The study appeared in the Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making.

Source-ANI