The Problem with Doing Your Own Research
The phrase "I do my own research" is often heard nowadays, usually delivered with a hint of pride, suggesting intellectual independence and critical thinking. However, this approach to gathering information might not be as sound as believed.
Proper —and reliable — research requires specific skills and training. Professional researchers spend years learning methodologies, understanding statistical analysis, and developing expertise in their fields. The average person googling topics for a few hours cannot replicate this depth of knowledge and rigour.
The internet is flooded with misinformation. Without training in evaluating sources, distinguishing between peer-reviewed studies and pseudoscience, or understanding scientific methodology, it's easy to fall prey to convincing-looking but unreliable information.
Cognitive biases matter. When we "do our own research", we tend to seek information that confirms our existing beliefs while dismissing contrary evidence. This confirmation bias can lead us down rabbit holes of increasingly questionable sources.
I found this especially true of cancer treatments. When you have cancer, you hope for a cure. This leaves you vulnerable to someone offering such a cure, using suitably scientific language. For example, drinking your body weight in green drinks and five coffee enemas a day won’t help, although ingesting five litres of caffeine through the thin membrane of your anus may give you a lift.
We should be curious and questioning, but we should also:
In a complex age, it's wiser to say "I seek reliable experts" rather than "I do my own research."