Using “Google Trends” Analysis as a Digital Trend Monitoring Tool in Public Health Research: Application Examples, Methodological Characteristics, and Limitations

Öz

With the widespread adoption of digital technologies, internet search data has emerged as an alternative source of information for public health research. Google Trends, one of these data sources, enables the assessment of individuals’ online health information–seeking behavior across different times and geographical regions. This article examines the applications of Google Trends, a digital trend monitoring tool, in public health research, with a particular focus on its areas of use, strengths, limitations, and methodological characteristics, supported by examples from the literature. The scientific literature indicates that Google Trends can be used as a complementary digital data source in public health research by providing timely, freely accessible, and geographically extensive data. However, its reliance on relative search volume, the limited transparency of its sampling methods and data processing algorithms, and its susceptibility to external factors represent the main limitations of the method. In summary, Google Trends analyses can be used as a complementary tool to support conventional public health surveillance methods.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• google trends
• public health
• research

Proje Numarası

Bulunmamaktadır.

Bir Dijital Eğilim İzleme Aracı Olarak Google Trends’in Halk Sağlığı Araştırmalarında Kullanımı: Uygulama Örnekleri, Yöntemsel Özellikler ve Sınırlılıklar

Öz

Dijital teknolojilerin yaygınlaşmasıyla birlikte internet arama verileri, halk sağlığı araştırmalarında kullanılan alternatif dijital veri kaynakları arasında yer almaya başlamıştır. Bu veri kaynaklarından biri olan Google Trends, bireylerin çevrim içi bilgi arama davranışlarını zaman ve coğrafi bölgelere göre değerlendirmeye olanak sağlamaktadır. Bu makalede, dijital bir eğilim izleme aracı olan Google Trends’in halk sağlığı araştırmalarındaki kullanım alanları, güçlü yönleri, sınırlılıkları ve metodolojik özellikleri örnek çalışmalar ışığında incelenmiştir. Bilimsel literatür, Google Trends’in ücretsiz, geniş coğrafi kapsamda ve gerçek zamana yakın veri sunması nedeniyle halk sağlığı araştırmalarında tamamlayıcı bir dijital veri kaynağı olarak kullanılabileceğini göstermektedir. Bununla birlikte, verilerin göreli arama hacmine dayanması, örnekleme yöntemi ve veri işleme algoritmalarına ilişkin şeffaflığın sınırlı olması ile dış faktörlerden etkilenebilmesi yöntemin başlıca sınırlılıkları arasında yer almaktadır. Özetle, Google Trends analizleri klasik izleme yöntemlerini destekleyecek şekilde kullanılabilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• google trends
• halk sağlığı
• araştırma

Destekleyen Kurum

Bulunmamaktadır.

Proje Numarası

Bulunmamaktadır.

Etik Beyan

Bu çalışma derleme niteliğinde olup insan katılımcılar veya hayvanlar üzerinde gerçekleştirilen herhangi bir araştırma içermediğinden etik kurul onayı gerektirmemektedir.

Teşekkür

Bulunmamaktadır.

Kaynakça

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