The Anonymity Effect: The Influence of Anonymity on Perceptions of Sources and Information on Health Websites

The study reported here examined the influence of anonymous sources on health websites on the perceptions and attitudes of information seekers. It was hypothesized that, despite the warnings and guidelines established by health organizations, anonymous sources would be perceived to be as credible and influential as sources that were identified. The anonymity effect, drawn from the similarity principle in attribution theory, was forwarded as a theoretical mechanism to explain responses to anonymous sources. The results indicated that anonymous sources were generally perceived by participants to be as credible and influential as identified sources, although the anonymity effect explanation was not supported. The implications of these findings for information seekers and health practitioners are considered.     

Information Sources and the Health Information-Seeking Process: An Application and Extension of Channel Complementarity Theory

Contemporary information seekers can acquire health information from an unprecedented variety of sources. The reported study applied and extended channel complementarity theory to explain the use of multiple information sources in the health-information-seeking process. Channel complementarity was extended to consider four characteristics (i.e., access to medical expertise, tailorability, anonymity, and convenience) of health-information sources. The information-seeking behavior of 3,392 respondents from the 2007–2008 Health Information National Trends Survey was analyzed to test study hypotheses. Results indicate that, sources were used complementarily based on tailorability and anonymity during health-information sources. Additionally, the likelihood of using complementary sources based on all four characteristics changed during the search process.     

Reexamining LGBT Resources on College Counseling Center Websites: An Over-time and Cross-country Analysis

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students continue to perceive a hostile climate on college campuses. For students facing these challenges, the university college counseling center website (CCW) may serve as a critical resource. This study provides an updated content analysis of the prevalence of LGBT communication on CCWs. Results showed that there remains a lack of LGBT-specific information about services provided on US CCWs. Furthermore, over-time analyses of 2008 and 2013 data showed that there have been no significant increases in any LGBT communication, and CCWs from religious schools continue to provide significantly less LGBT-related communication than nonreligious institutions. Separate analyses of UK CCWs showed that these websites were more likely than US CCWs to make any mention of LGBT issues but less likely to note group counseling services, links to LGBT-specific pamphlets, and educational outreach services offered. Overall, given attractive features of online health information, as well as the extent that students value CCWs, institutions must pursue stronger efforts to promote LGBT-related web counseling information.     

(Re)Viewing Reviews: Effects of Emotionality and Valence on Credibility Perceptions in Online Consumer Reviews

This study examines credibility perceptions in online consumer reviews. Specifically, this work investigates the effects of review emotionality (high vs. low), review valence (positive vs. negative), and individuals’ need for affect on source credibility and information credibility. In an online experiment, U.S. adults (N = 327) viewed a product review from Amazon.com varied across four experimental conditions. Results indicate that high-emotionality reviews are perceived as lower in source and information credibility compared to low-emotionality reviews. A moderated mediation model was tested with the source credibility dimensions as possible mediators of information credibility and need for affect as a moderator for the effects of review emotionality. The effects of emotionality on information credibility were significantly mediated by source trustworthiness, and this mediation was moderated by participants’ need for affect, with the credibility-hampering effects of emotionality found only among participants with low and moderate levels of need for affect.     

Speaking Ill of the Dead: Anonymity and Communication About Suicide on MyDeathSpace.com

From birth to death, many individuals chronicle their lives online through blogs, pictures, games, Web sites, and social networks. Online spaces, created by the living about the dead, provide a glimpse into often invisible or silent grieving practices. To investigate the role computer-mediated communication (CMC) plays in influencing communication surrounding the often private and taboo topic of suicide, we analyzed the comments sections of MyDeathSpace.com. Our results suggest both a breaking down of social taboos (speaking ill of the dead) and a reaffirming of strict social norms (enforcing a narrow range of acceptable presentation of identity and purpose in life), highlighting how anonymity as a characteristic of CMC can influence our online communication about death.     

Perceptions of Health Care Professionals' Credibility as a Predictor of Patients' Satisfaction with their Medical Care and Physician

The purpose of this study was to examine how patients' perceptions of source credibility related to their satisfaction with the quality of medical care they received and satisfaction with their physician. Patients' perceptions of the competence and caring dimensions of source credibility were analyzed for physicians, nurses, and support staff members. Three hypotheses were proposed and supported. Results indicated that higher perceptions of competence and caring for each member of the medical team were related to more patient satisfaction. This paper discusses the importance of the doctor-patient, nurse-patient, and support staff-patient relationships in light of the findings.     

Examining the Decision to Talk with Family About Organ Donation: Applying the Theory of Motivated Information Management

Research on organ donation suggests a strong association between family discussions about the issue and final organ donor status. However, very few studies have examined the factors that influence individuals’ willingness to talk directly to their family about this topic or the impact of these discussions. This investigation provides a partial test of a newly developed theory of information management to better understand the processes of family discussions about organ donation. Results from two studies generally support the utility of the theory in this context, suggest ways in which organ donation campaigns may improve their effectiveness, and recommend future directions for researchers in this area. Moreover, the data show differences across ethnic groups that support and extend past work in this area.     

论网络档案信息的传播效果

随着网络技术的发展,基于档案网站的网络档案信息的传播效果成为重要研究课题。网络环境中各传播要素的变化对档案信息传播效果产生了影响,各层次传播效果也有不同表现。尽管网络档案信息传播效果具有种种优势,但现状并不尽如人意,需要采取有效对策。     

大学生网络信息可信度感知影响因素的实证研究

借助于媒介可信度理论与媒介系统依赖理论,采用问卷调查方法,探讨大学生群体对于网络信息的可信度评价。研究发现,大学生群体对网上不同类型信息的可信度评价存在显著差异;大学生群体对网络的信任程度与其对网络的使用或者依赖程度呈显著正相关;大学生群体对网络的知觉易用性与网络的知觉有用性呈显著正相关。     

A Comparative Study of Sources of Health Information and Access to Preventive Care Among Low Income Chronic Drug Users

Much of health research that examines patterns of health utilization for chronic drug users fails to account for the role of media use and health information seeking. This paper suggests that the nature of drug use is associated with a decreased health orientation that is manifested in media selection and consumption. A comparative analysis was conducted to examine: (1) the differential health perceptions as a function of drug use, (2) the sources of information used, and (3) the relationship between sources of information and primary health care access among chronic users of illicit drugs and socio-demographically similar persons who are not chronic drug users. Results point to both common as well as differential patterns of health information sources. Logistic regression analysis found that medically related sources such as doctors and pamphlets are important sources associated with increased primary care. Important implications are discussed.     

Tweeting Facts,Facebooking Lives: The Influence of Language Use and Modality on Online Source Credibility

The present study examines how language use (e.g., personalized vs. depersonalized language) and modality (e.g., tweets vs. Facebook status updates) influence source credibility interdependently. A total of 257 participants read personalized or depersonalized health messages embedded in mock-up tweets or Facebook status updates. The results show that users perceive depersonalized tweets as more credible than depersonalized status updates posted on Facebook. On the other hand, personalized status updates on Facebook generate higher credibility judgments than personalized tweets. The findings are discussed in light of the MAIN model as well as the preconceived user expectations and communication norms of social media.     

国外互联网信息可信性研究发展历程及特征分析

互联网信息可信性是目前学界的研究热点。本文以时间演进为主线,辅以研究主题变化的考察,探讨了20世纪90年代末到目前国外互联网信息可信性研究的发展历程,发现该领域的主要研究特征是:多学科共同研究、研究主题相对稳定、研究对象进一步多元和细分、调研对象以分类趋向为主同时兼顾普适性、研究方法将定量和定性方法相结合。未来互联网信息可信性研究的重点是影响因素研究和用户信息行为环境和情景的考察。     

The Social Dimension of Blogging about Health: Health Blogging,Social Support,and Well-being

The study reported here explored the social dimension of health-related blogs by examining blogging as a means to marshal social support and, as a result, achieve some of the health benefits associated with supportive communication. A total of 121 individuals who author a blog dedicated to their experience living with a specific health condition completed the study questionnaire. The number of blog posts made by respondents and proportion of posts with reader comments were positively associated with perceived social support from blog readers. The relationship between blog reader support and two outcomes related to well-being depended upon the support available in bloggers' strong-tie relationships with family and friends. Consistent with the social compensation (i.e., “poor get richer”) perspective, blog reader support was negatively associated with loneliness and positively associated with personal growth when support in strong-tie relationships was relatively lacking.     

Identity on Social Networks as a Cue: Identity,Retweets, and Credibility

The current study investigates how social media affordances influence individuals’ source credibility perceptions in the presence of risk information, specifically examining how bandwagon heuristics interact with different identity heuristics at the individual level. The MAIN model and warranting theory serve as the theoretical framework to examine the effects of bandwagon cues and identity cues embedded in retweets and users’ profile pages for health and risk online information processing. A posttest-only experiment with a self-report questionnaire was administered to participants. Results indicate that different online heuristic cues impact the judgments of competence, goodwill, and trustworthiness. Authority cues strongly influenced source credibility perceptions. A reverse-bandwagon effect was observed in influencing source credibility judgments.     

Presence,Sex, and Bad News: Exploring the Responses of Men and Women to Tragic News Stories in Varying Media

This study explores the interplay of sex, presence, and enjoyment of nonfictional tragic news content; an experiment was conducted in which participants viewed a news story about Hurricane Katrina's devastation to the Gulf Coast on a standard definition television, high definition television, or a video iPod. The results indicate that women reported more sadness regardless of condition, though they seemed especially moved in the iPod condition. Women also reported more information seeking, and reported highest levels of presence in the iPod condition. The results are discussed both in terms of implications for crisis message practitioners, and in terms of what the results may mean for our understanding of the enjoyment of tragedy.     

An Investigation of Value-, Impression-, and Outcome-Relevant Involvement on Attitudes,Purchase Intentions,and Information Seeking

This investigation explored the relationship between value-relevant (VRI), impression-relevant (IRI), and outcome-relevant involvement (ORI) on information-seeking behaviors, attitudes, and purchase intentions. Results revealed that grocery shoppers' (N = 175) ORI was positively associated with information-seeking behaviors, attitudes, and purchase intentions of foods high in fiber. Neither VRI nor IRI predicted attitudes or purchase intentions. Results are discussed with an emphasis on information seeking among the three types of involvement and message-design strategies with respect to promoting foods high in fiber.     

Reporting Risk: Perceptions of Fear and Risk from Health News Coverage

Using actual news coverage of an environmental risk, this experimental study examined whether providing unrelated risk comparisons and information about other sources of the same risk influenced readers' reactions to the coverage. The study suggests stories that provide information on other sources of a contaminant may do little to reduce risk perceptions; however, providing information about the magnitude of the risk at hand relative to other risks had several communication benefits. Both comparisons lead readers to feel more informed about the risk and, thus, better able to make decisions than those who did not see the comparisons. Media implications are discussed.     

Effects of Mass and Interpersonal Communication on Breast Cancer Screening: Advancing Agenda-Setting Theory in Health Contexts

Drawing on components of agenda-setting theory and the two-step flow of information from mass media to news audiences, this study examines the effects of mass and interpersonal communication on breast cancer screening practices among college- and middle-aged women (n = 284). We theorized that screening behaviors among younger women would be influenced more by interpersonal sources of information while screening among middle-aged women would be more influenced by exposure to mass-mediated information. Findings supported anticipated patterns, revealing important and varying roles for both mass and interpersonal communication in the health behaviors of women. Implications for health practitioners and campaign planners, as well as recommendations for future research, are discussed.     

Buffering Against Sources Of Academic Stress: The Influence of Supportive Informational and Emotional Communication on Psychological Well-Being

This study examined college students’ psychological well-being as a function of both sources of academic stress and supportive communication. A total of 129 students completed measures assessing four sources of academic stress (i.e., pressures to perform, perceptions of workload, academic self-perceptions, and time restraints), psychological well-being, and two types of received supportive communication (i.e., informational and emotional). Pressures to perform, perceptions of workload, and time restraints were negatively associated with psychological well-being. In addition, the negative relationship between perceptions of workload and psychological well-being was strengthened when supportive informational communication and supportive emotional communication were individually and jointly low. Finally, the positive relationship between academic self-perceptions and psychological well-being was only significant when supportive informational communication was high.     

微博环境下用户学术信息搜寻行为影响因素研究

双路径模型最早由社会心理学领域的学者提出,认为个人对某行为的态度改变主要受到中枢路径和边缘路径的影响。本文运用双路径模型研究微博环境下用户的学术信息搜寻行为,认为用户对该行为的态度改变受到信息质量(中枢路径)和信源可信度(边缘路径)的影响。鉴于微博的娱乐性和学术信息的严谨性,本文将用户态度分为认知反应和情感反应两个方面。首先基于已有的文献构建信息质量二阶模型,并构建微博学术信息搜寻行为影响因素研究模型。然后采用问卷调查法,搜集294份有效样本数据。在此基础上,利用偏最小二乘结构方程建模方法对数据进行分析,发现信息质量和信源可信度都显著正向影响用户的认知反应和情感反应,且信息质量的影响均大于信源可信度的影响,认知反应和情感反应进一步显著正向影响学术信息搜寻行为。图2。表4。参考文献58。附录1。