information overload

Introduction

Information overload is a phenomenon where the amount of available information exceeds an individual's ability to process it effectively. This issue has become increasingly prevalent with the rapid growth of information sources and digitalization, impacting decision-making, productivity, and overall cognitive function.

Key Insights

Cognitive Limitations and Decision-Making:
- Information overload occurs because human cognitive capacity is finite, leading to poor decision-making when overwhelmed with too much information .
- Experiments show that withholding certain information can lead to better decision outcomes, suggesting that less can be more in decision-making contexts.
Impact on Productivity and Performance:
- Excessive information can severely reduce job productivity and performance, as individuals struggle to manage and process the influx of data .
- In consumer behavior, providing too much information can lead to dysfunctional consequences, affecting decision quality and satisfaction .
Technological and Social Interventions:
- Technological solutions such as information architecture, filtering, and ranking tools can help manage information overload by organizing and prioritizing data .
- Social approaches, including practicing information literacy, critical assessment, and personal information management, are also effective in mitigating the symptoms of information overload .
Historical and Contextual Factors:
- The concept of information overload is not new and has been a concern since the emergence of scientific disciplines, where specialization made it difficult to keep up with all subareas.
- The ongoing digitalization and increased use of information and communication technologies have exacerbated the problem, making it a critical issue in modern work environments.

Conclusion

Information overload is a significant issue that affects decision-making, productivity, and cognitive function due to the finite capacity of human cognition. Both technological and social interventions are necessary to manage and mitigate its effects. As the digital landscape continues to expand, addressing information overload will remain a crucial challenge in various fields.

Information overload

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Information overload

Information overload can lead to poor decisions and reduced job productivity, but it may be possible to discover new things faster than scouring the web for facts.

Information Overload

Information overload occurs due to the finite capacity of human cognition to effectively process increasing amounts of information in everyday life.

Perspectives on Information Overload

The information overload research paradigm has limited ability to capture and model the real world, and its use in applied settings has been questioned by various researchers.

Information Overload in Mechanical Processes

Information overload can also affect mechanical processes, leading to better results when certain known and correct information is withheld from the input.

Guest Editors' Introduction: Information Overload

This special issue explores various techniques and tools to manage information overload, highlighting the need for effective discrimination between useful, redundant, incorrect, and meaningless information.

The Information Overload Controversy: An Alternative Viewpoint

Consumer information overload can negatively impact decision-making performance, with some interesting findings emerging from re-analyzing previous studies.

Information Load and Consumer Decision Making

Consumer decision making is impaired by information overload when faced with 10, 15, 20, or 25 choice alternatives or attribute information.

Information Overload

Information overload can be prevented and mitigated through technological and social approaches, including information literacy, data literacy, critical assessment, slow information behavior, and Personal Information Management tools.

Dealing with information overload: a comprehensive review

This review reveals a wide range of interventions and design approaches to address information overload, but the strength of evidence from these studies is mixed.

Information overload: implications for healthcare services

Information overload in healthcare services can lead to reduced patient satisfaction and decreased efficiency, requiring organizational therapies to address this issue.

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