Research Skills: Literature Review on Internet and Health Information

This report presents a literature review examining the role of the internet in providing health-related information to higher education students. The study analyzes secondary data from various sources, including articles and journals, to explore the impact of the internet on how students access and ...Read More

RESEARCH SKILLS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction to literature review......................................................................................................1
Literature review..............................................................................................................................1
Theme 1 Importance of internet to gain health related information............................................1
Theme 2 Usage of internet in higher education by students........................................................1
Theme 3 Benefits of internet usage for students.........................................................................2
Methodology....................................................................................................................................2
Discussions on the data....................................................................................................................3
Findings...........................................................................................................................................4
Reflections on your own learning during review............................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

Introduction to literature review
In this the researcher analyses secondary data taken from previous articles, journals, etc. and
write it in study. The data is evaluated that provide views and opinions of other authors on
internet as source of health information among higher education students. Beside this, it also
becomes easy for user to read and understand and gain knowledge about research topic. It is
written on basis of objectives developed and according to themes. Here, each theme can be
further divided into sub themes. From that it become easier to go through entire chapter. This
chapter presents the literature review to cover all objectives and also representing the answer of
each objectives in the form of LR theme.
Literature review
Theme 1 Importance of internet to gain health related information
As per the view of Humphrey-Ackumey, Adams and Ahenkorah-Marfo, (2019) internet
has changed the way in which information is shared or accessed by their users. Retrieval of
information is much easier as compared to earlier times. There are various ways or methods
through which information is acquired through internet and many ways though which internet
can be used by people for gaining information required by them. Humphrey-Ackumey, Adams
and Ahenkorah-Marfo, (2019) explains that internet plays a vital role in gaining or receiving
information related to health. It has become much easier for people to gain health related
information through internet. It is one of the most convenient sources of receiving information as
people can access internet through computers, laptops, mobiles and through many more ways.
Other than this method though which internet can be used to gain health related information are
social networking site, search engines, websites or applications that can be accessed through
internet. Students who are perusing higher education specifically use internet to gain health
related information for various purposes. It plays a vital role and is important for students as it is
not only used for retrieving health information but it is also used for various other purposes such
as recievi9ng, uploading or retrieving information or data or communicating with others.
Theme 2 Usage of internet in higher education by students
According to the view of Osei Asibey, Agyemang and Boakye Dankwah, (2017) internet is
one of the most successful technology that is used to today by various people as well as students
today. It is widely used by students for education purpose to gather information, gain knowledge
of subjects or to do research in a specific field and many more purposes. It is not only important
1

to gain or receive information for students but it is also used to resolve student’s queries,
problems or any kind of doubts that they face. For students who are perusing higher educations
internet is one of the most crucial sources of knowledge which is used by them in a most easy
and frequent manner. Students can use this source to gather information that they can use it to
gain information for examinations purpose, enhance one’s own knowledge or to improve one’s
own health. Many times, higher education students uses internet to do some kind of online
certification courses or to attend online classes or crash courses or to communicate with each
other. It make researching of things or topics much easier for higher education students as
information is easily available to them as per their needs and requirements.
Theme 3 Benefits of internet usage for students
As cited by Noe and et.al., (2017) explains that, using internet as a source for gaining
information has various benefits for students. It is one of the most affordable and cost-effective
sources that can be used by students. It also helps the students to interact with their teachers in a
more convenient manner so that they can enhance their knowledge and explore new ideas or
knowledge. It is one of the most convenient learning and teaching tool where information can be
easily provided to others as well as can be easily gathered for further use. Noe and et.al., (2017)
also explains that internet helps in providing students with quality education and study material if
they have knowledge of knows they way or manner in which they are required to use the
internet. Students can remain updated with latest research that have been taken place or can gain
updated information easily and based on this they can take effective decisions as well.
Methodology
 Research type: there are mainly two type of research types qualitative and quantitative
research type. Qualitative research type is a kind of research in which information related to
someone’s opinion is analysed (Antwi and Hamza, 2015). In this only non-numerical data is
collected and analysed. Quantitative research type is a kind of research in which numeric
data is collected and analysed statistically in order to reach to a conclusion. It is a qualitative
type of research in which Secondary data analysis has been done.
 Research design: It is a kind of framework or collection of methods that are mostly chosen by
the researcher. there are mainly three types of research design: exploratory, descriptive and
casual type of research design. Exploratory research design is used to discover insight or
ideas, descriptive research design is used to describe market aspects or function and casual
2

research design is used to determine cause and effect relationship. For this research
exploratory research design has been used.
 Data collection: there are mainly two types of data: primary and secondary. Primary is a kind
of data which is collected by the researcher whereas secondary is already published data that
has already been analysed. For this research secondary data has been used that has been
collected from various books, articles, online portal and newspaper.
 Data analysis: it is a process of cleaning, inspecting and transforming raw data into useful
information (Sessler and Imrey, 2015). There are two main types of data analysis types first
is thematic which is used for qualitative data analysis and second is statistical data analysis
which used for performing statistical operations in quantitative data. For this thematic data
analysis has been used for analysis of secondary data.
 Research approach: these are steps of broad assumptions for detailed data collection, analysis
and interpretation. There are many types of approaches but mainly two types of approaches
are used: inductive and deductive research approach. Inductive approach deals with
generation of new theory whereas deductive approach deal with testing of already existing
theory. For this research inductive approach has been used.
 Research philosophy: It is a way through which data related to a phenomenon are gathered.
There are many types of philosophies that are used in research but mainly three types of
philosophy are used: positivism, realism and interpretivism research philosophy. Positivism
believes that reality can be observed and descried. Interpretivism focuses on the fact that only
through subjective interpretation reality can be fully understood. For this research
interpretivism has been used.
Discussions on the data
From the above gathered information, it has been analysed that internet is a most convenient
source that can be used by higher education students to gather information related to health.
Students can use information from many sources such as mobile, laptops etc. it helps the students
to remain updated with latest knowledge as well as research that has recently took place so that
they can enhance as well as update their current knowledge. This updated information gathered
from internet from various sources can be used for various purposes. It is extremely helpful for
students who are perusing their higher education as they can use this health related information
extracted from internet for many purposes such as they can use this updated health information
3

for research purposes so that they can understand recent research that have took place in this
field or they can use this information to update their knowledge for study purpose or examination
purpose. All the information available on internet that are collected from authentic, authorized
and verified sources can be used by the students for effective decision making as well. It has
been analysed that internet is useful for students in another way i.e. if they do not understand any
information from one source or offline then they can search same information on other source on
internet this will also help the students to enhance their knowledge as well as it will also help
them to save both time and cost.
Findings
It is analysed that internet has become a major source for students to gain info about health.
They are able to find out what diet plan is to be followed, how to reduce weight, what nutrition
and vitamins are to be taken, etc. So, they follow that diet plan and maintain their health.
Moreover, many higher education students have given advise and supported others to prepare a
proper diet plan. Furthermore, medical info is available to them in electronic way. Most students
said that internet provides them useful info. However, by accessing records about info on internet
it was easy for them to analyse medical history of others. In that they think that social media is
best source where health related information is available. There people, doctors, gym experts,
etc. share useful data related to mental and physical health. It gave insight to students regarding
what measure is to be taken and in what situation. So, now they possess basic knowledge of
medicine and precautions that need to be taken. students are able to seek and gain more
knowledge on health and how to remain fit and healthy. The survey revealed that more than half
of all participants use the Internet to obtain health information and support (among other uses),
specifically finding information about illnesses and interacting with health professionals via
emails, Facebook pages, and other social media platforms such as WhatsApp, where contact
details of selected health professionals at the university hospitals have been made available. This
implies that there is a great potential of the Internet as an important channel for health
information and support, for not only university students, but also the general population. The
reason for use of the Internet for health purposes by the students could be the abundance of
Internet access on campus including campus-wide Wi-Fi and computer pools. But on contrary
there are some students who said that they find information available on internet as fake. They
did not used that and also suggested other not to believe on that info. Their comments and
4

thoughts were negative. Along with it, they said that the info is inserted on internet by some fake
id and people as well. So, it is not authentic and reliable. Due to this students do not trust on that.
Reflections on your own learning during review
Literature review is used to build a base for research by analysing research proposed by
other researchers. I have learned that literature review helps the researcher to gain an insight of
the research topic and understand the research topic in a much-detailed manner. I have learned
that internet is one of the best sources that can be used by higher education students. It is one of
the most efficient, easily available sources that can be used by students so that they can extract
required information that can be used by them. I have also learned that internet is a most
convenient source that can be used to extract health information by higher education students.
This health information can also help students to enhance their decision making, increase their
knowledge related to health. I have also learned that there are various methods through which
health information from internet can be extracted that can be used by students for various
purposes such as for examination purpose, improve one’s own health, learn topics missed at
college or for decision making. I have also learned that it is important for students to have prior
knowledge of using internet because lack of knowledge can work as a barrier in gaining health
related information for students who are perusing higher education.
5

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Antwi, S.K. and Hamza, K., 2015. Qualitative and quantitative research paradigms in business
research: A philosophical reflection. European Journal of Business and Management.
7(3). pp.217-225.
Humphrey-Ackumey, S.A., Adams, M. and Ahenkorah-Marfo, M., 2019. Health Information
Behaviour of Graduate Students on the Internet: Sources, Trust and Reliability of
Information.
Noe, R.A., and et.al., 2017. Human resource management: Gaining a competitive advantage.
New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
Osei Asibey, B., Agyemang, S. and Boakye Dankwah, A., 2017. The internet use for health
information seeking among Ghanaian university students: a cross-sectional study.
International journal of telemedicine and applications. 2017.
Sessler, D.I. and Imrey, P.B., 2015. Clinical research methodology 1: study designs and
methodologic sources of error. Anesthesia & Analgesia. 121(4). pp.1034-1042.
6