The ACRL Health Science Interest Group’s next Friday Forum is scheduled for Friday, April 11th at 1:00-2:30 EDT (10-11:30 Pacific, 11:00-12:30 Mountain, 12:00-1:30 Central). You do not have to be a member of ACRL to join us!
Title: Balancing acts: Personal health narratives and scientific evidence in the age of misinformation
Presenter:
Brynne Campbell Rice, New York University Division of Libraries
Description: Misinformation embedded in personal health narratives represents a significant information evaluation challenge. This forum will explore the intersection of health misinformation and narrative messaging, focusing on implications for health librarians. Personal stories shared across digital platforms often contain compelling personal stories that can propagate misleading health information, frequently employing emotionally persuasive narratives that underemphasize risks and exaggerate treatment efficacy. The presentation will examine the critical role that health librarians can play in combating misinformation, with a focus on navigating the tensions between epistemic justice—respecting diverse ways of knowing and lived experiences—and the commitment to evidence-based healthcare. By understanding the psychological drivers behind misinformation belief, the power of storytelling, and the importance of inclusive knowledge practices, health librarians can develop nuanced strategies to counter false claims while acknowledging the value of personal experiences in health decision-making.
Learning Objectives:
-Analyze the role of personal narratives in spreading health misinformation and describe key characteristics that make these stories compelling and potentially misleading.
-Identify approaches to combat misinformation while balancing epistemic justice and evidence-based healthcare principles.
-Develop strategies to support the integration of knowledge from diverse sources to promote a holistic approach to health information literacy
Registration required:
https://nyu.zoom.us/meeting/register/7aOx7z1QRuea3eCPtfgz9w
We will record the presentation portion, which we estimate will take up the first hour, and turn the recording off for discussion.
After the forum, the recording and slides will be posted on the ACRL HSIG research guide and sent out to the ACRL HSIG listserv and all registrants.
Questions? Please email jules.bailey@fsu.edu