2. Dealing with information overload
So far, you have looked at the search process and found out how you can refine your search using some of the options in Google. In your initial search, you selected a couple of results. This involved filtering. Filtering is a mental process involving skim-reading, evaluation and a series of quick judgements about what to do next. When faced with a screen full of search results, you can get a feel for which ones might be relevant by looking at the headings, highlighted keywords, type of site, URL and date. Having decided to investigate a site further, you can get a quick overview by employing some scanning and skimming techniques.
Scanning involves looking quickly down the page to locate relevant words, phrases or images that you are interested in. This will help you to decide whether you should read further and how useful the website or document might be. You can scan:
- headings and subheadings
- images and artwork
- the body text itself, e.g. for authors’ names
- the sitemap.
Skimming the text quickly involves:
- getting an indication of the scope and content of the information
- looking at the first sentence of each paragraph to see what it’s about
- noting the key points in any summaries.
Of course, information overload is not just about information you find on the web when you are looking for it – it can also come from our inboxes. It is easy to sign up for information from various sites, such as retailers or restaurants, and then find your inbox overflowing with frequent messages that aren’t necessarily useful.
The 5 Ds (Caunt, 1999) framework are a useful technique to help you be more decisive when handling information that comes to you. They can be summarised as:
- Discard: when you delete information that is irrelevant
- Deal with (Do It Now): When you reply to email or comment on information posted online
- Determine future action (SIFT it – Schedule It now For Tomorrow): when you delay replying to email or commenting on a post for later.
- Direct / Distribute it (think about why you are directing it and what you expect the recipient to do with it): when you forward email you received to other recipients or share information you find online via social media.
- Deposit it (file it): when you download and save an online file on your computer or content storage/management software.
All of the techniques considered so far are part of the broader ability to take a critical stance towards what you read. This is about knowing what questions to ask, so that you can determine not only what information is relevant to you but also who put it there, what their viewpoint might be and how far it can be trusted. Critical thinking will also help you to stay in control of your digital life, rather than feeling it is controlling you. In fact, it is probably the number one skill you can develop.
Reference
Caunt, J. (1999) 30 minutes to manage information overload, London: Kogan Page. Available at
https://www.amazon.com/30-Minutes-Manage-Information-Overload/dp/0749429801. (Last accessed 30 August 2018).