Showing papers in "Communication Research in 2010"
TL;DR: Analysis of original sources and selecting sources yielded a three-way interaction between message, original source, and selecting source on perceived credibility, suggesting the operation of an appropriateness heuristic when evaluating source combinations for less relevant health topics.
Abstract: Online health information comes from a variety of online sources. Based on a typology of online sources, this research examines the direct and combined influences of original sources (doctors vs. laypersons) and selecting sources (Web sites vs. bulletin boards vs. blogs vs. personal home pages vs. Internet) on perceived credibility of—and behavioral intentions toward—health information. A large 2 (message) × 2 (original source) × 5 (selecting source) full-factorial online experiment revealed that respondents (N = 555) were more likely to take action based on the information sourced from a Web site than from a blog or a personal home page. The effect was mediated by perceived level of gatekeeping and perceived information completeness. The analysis also yielded a three-way interaction between message, original source, and selecting source on perceived credibility, suggesting the operation of an appropriateness heuristic when evaluating source combinations for less relevant health topics. Theoretical and pr...
371 citations
TL;DR: The results reveal that this type of automated measure of verbal mimicry can be an objective, efficient, and unobtrusive tool for predicting underlying social dynamics.
Abstract: Synchronized verbal behavior can reveal important information about social dynamics. This study introduces the linguistic style matching (LSM) algorithm for calculating verbal mimicry based on an automated textual analysis of function words. The LSM algorithm was applied to language generated during a small group discussion in which 70 groups comprised of 324 individuals engaged in an information search task either face-to-face or via text-based computer-mediated communication. As a metric, LSM predicted the cohesiveness of groups in both communication environments, and it predicted task performance in face-to-face groups. Other language features were also related to the groups’ cohesiveness and performance, including word count, pronoun patterns, and verb tense. The results reveal that this type of automated measure of verbal mimicry can be an objective, efficient, and unobtrusive tool for predicting underlying social dynamics. In total, the study demonstrates the effectiveness of using language to predi...
346 citations
TL;DR: High NFC individuals relied more on the approval ratings than individual postings in estimating media influence on general public, but low NFC individuals’ presumption about media influence remained unaltered, regardless of how others’ reactions were presented.
Abstract: The present experiment investigated if and how other readers’ reactions to news on Internet portal sites affect individuals’ perceptions of public opinion, assessments of media influence, and their personal opinion. In so doing, others’ responses were shown as either individual comments or aggregate approval ratings of the article, and the individual’s need for cognition (NFC) was considered as a potential moderator of their relative effects. High NFC individuals relied more on the approval ratings than individual postings in estimating media influence on general public, but low NFC individuals’ presumption about media influence remained unaltered, regardless of how others’ reactions were presented. However, exposure to dissenting comments led both high and low NFC individuals to perceive the public opinion as more discrepant from the news position, with no corresponding effect for approval ratings. Others’ comments significantly affected participants’ personal opinion, but only for those less prone to en...
236 citations
TL;DR: Results show that the lower online daters’ attractiveness, the more likely they were to enhance their profile photographs and lie about their physical descriptors, suggesting that their deceptions were limited and strategic.
Abstract: This study examines the role of online daters’ physical attractiveness in their profile self-presentation and, in particular, their use of deception Sixty-nine online daters identified the deceptions in their online dating profiles and had their photograph taken in the lab Independent judges rated the online daters’ physical attractiveness Results show that the lower online daters’ attractiveness, the more likely they were to enhance their profile photographs and lie about their physical descriptors (height, weight, age) The association between attractiveness and deception did not extend to profile elements unrelated to their physical appearance (eg, income, occupation), suggesting that their deceptions were limited and strategic Results are discussed in terms of (a) evolutionary theories about the importance of physical attractiveness in the dating realm and (b) the technological affordances that allow online daters to engage in selective self-presentation
224 citations
TL;DR: It is confirmed that there continue to be small but significant gender differences for most uses of the Internet, and that other factors related to life stage will continue to influence gender differences in Internet use in the future.
Abstract: Gender inequalities in Internet use are smaller among younger people. It is unclear whether these differences can be explained by the varying circumstances in which different generations grew up or by other factors that vary within an individual’s life time. This article tests a model which proposes that generation determines the level of Internet use and life stage determines gender differences in Internet use. Descriptive analyses of a representative sample of 1,578 British Internet users confirm that there continue to be small but significant gender differences for most uses of the Internet. The findings from a series of linear regressions suggest that gender differences vary for different life stages related to occupation and marital status. This is true especially for typically male uses. The article concludes that other factors related to life stage will continue to influence gender differences in Internet use in the future.
198 citations
TL;DR: The experience of transportation—being absorbed in a narrative—and its relationship to persuasion were considered in two studies exploring responses to health-promoting mass media messages, and principles for effective health communication campaigns are discussed.
Abstract: The experience of transportation—being absorbed in a narrative—and its relationship to persuasion were considered in two studies exploring responses to health-promoting mass media messages. Following Epstein’s (1994) cognitive-experiential self-theory, two pathways to persuasion were considered: cognitive and experiential. In Study 1 ( n = 121), smokers who experienced increased transportation in response to antismoking messages reported that they would make a greater effort to quit smoking, and this effect was mediated by both experiential (emotional and self-referencing) and cognitive responses to the messages. In Study 2 (n = 110), experiential responses to magazine messages promoting skin protection were related to intentions to protect oneself, and this effect was mediated by feelings of risk.The implications of these results are discussed in terms of principles for effective health communication campaigns as well as theoretical advances in narrative persuasion in the context of health communication.
194 citations
TL;DR: Structural equation modeling showed that more frequent use of SEIM increased both the perceived social realism and the perceived utility ofSEIM, and these two perceptions led to more instrumental attitudes toward sex.
Abstract: Although research has repeatedly demonstrated a link between adolescents’ exposure to sexually explicit Internet material (SEIM) and sexual attitudes, the processes underlying this association are not well understood. More specifically, studies have pointed to a mediating role of perceived realism, but internally valid evidence is missing. To address these problems, the authors used data from a three-wave panel study among 959 Dutch adolescents.They investigated whether two dimensions of the perceived realism of SEIM— social realism and utility—mediated the impact of SEIM on adolescents’ instrumental attitudes toward sex (i.e., the notion of sex as primarily physical and casual rather than affectionate and relational). Structural equation modeling showed that more frequent use of SEIM increased both the perceived social realism and the perceived utility of SEIM. In turn, these two perceptions led to more instrumental attitudes toward sex. No evidence of reverse causality emerged.
188 citations
TL;DR: Data suggest that the openness to dialogic communication is essential to creating and enhancing audience engagement in crisis communication, which, in turn, leads to positive postcrisis perceptions.
Abstract: This study focused on individual interpretation of crisis communication messages and aimed to examine which forms of crisis narratives can enhance audience engagement in crisis communication such as reduction of negative emotions. An experimental study was conducted, simulating audience experience with blog posts written for crisis communication. Data suggest that the openness to dialogic communication is essential to creating and enhancing audience engagement in crisis communication, which, in turn, leads to positive postcrisis perceptions. Among several dimensions of audience engagement, reduction of negative emotions was a critical mediator that connected the impact of openness to dialogic communication with positive postcrisis perceptions.
177 citations
TL;DR: The authors propose that attitude certainty is a key variable in identifying the hardcore and demonstrate that the climate of opinion only determines opinion expression when individuals hold their attitudes with low or moderate attitude certainty.
Abstract: Spiral of silence theory does not assume a simple relationship between opinion climate and opinion expression. In fact, the notion of hardcore individuals (who express their opinions regardless of the climate) embraces the idea that there are some people for whom this relationship does not hold true. However, this idea has not been put to a direct empirical test. In this article, the authors propose that attitude certainty is a key variable in identifying the hardcore. Data from three surveys demonstrate that the climate of opinion only determines opinion expression when individuals hold their attitudes with low or moderate attitude certainty. For individuals with high attitude certainty, no such effect can be found. Thus, there is a spiral of silence only for some but not for all members of the public.
164 citations
TL;DR: Differential influences of the cognitive appraisals were found on publics’ negative emotional responses as well as their coping strategy and organizational crisis response preferences.
Abstract: Despite the importance of affect in persuasion and strategic communication decision making, there is a lack of a systematic and integrated approach to understanding how discrete emotions publics experience in crises and their behavioral tendencies are associated with their cognitive appraisals. A 2 (predictability: high and low) × 2 (controllability: high and low) between-subjects experiment using a random general public sample was designed to examine the variance in publics’ affective responses, their strategies of coping with crises, and their acceptance of different organizational crisis responses, as a function of publics’ appraisal of crisis predictability and controllability. Differential influences of the cognitive appraisals were found on publics’ negative emotional responses (i.e., anger, sadness, and fright) as well as their coping strategy and organizational crisis response preferences.
163 citations
TL;DR: Assessment of the influence of multiple message and source factors on responses to advice in supportive interactions showed that the message factors had a stronger impact on advice outcomes as problem seriousness increased and a different pattern of prediction for implementation intention than for the other advice outcomes.
Abstract: Guided by an integration of existing theories on advice and persuasion, the current study presented and assessed the influence of multiple message and source factors on responses to advice in supportive interactions. A total of 262 participants completed survey instruments designed to assess message and source factors and advice outcomes with regard to a recent instance of having received advice for a personal difficulty. Results showed that the sets of source factors (expertise, liking, trust, and similarity) and message factors (politeness, response efficacy, feasibility, absence of limitations, and confirmation) each had independent influences on advice outcomes (evaluation of advice quality, facilitation of coping, and intention to implement the advice), but the effect of source factors was partially mediated by message factors. In addition, the message factors had a stronger impact on advice outcomes as problem seriousness increased. The results also showed a different pattern of prediction for implementation intention than for the other advice outcomes.
TL;DR: This research developed and tested a set of multilevel hypotheses regarding individual and team transactive memory processes in work teams and showed that at the individual level the relationship between directory development and expertise exchange was mediated by communication tie strength and moderated by shared task interdependence.
Abstract: Building on Kozlwoski and Klein’s emergence framework, this research developed and tested a set of multilevel hypotheses regarding individual and team transactive memory processes in work teams. Literature from social psychology suggested hypotheses on how shared task interdependence influences individual expertise exchange. Social network theory suggested hypotheses that individual expertise exchange is channeled according to communication tie strength. Using data collected from 218 individuals from 18 organizational teams, the proposed hypotheses were tested using hierarchical linear modeling techniques. The results showed that at the individual level the relationship between directory development and expertise exchange was mediated by communication tie strength and moderated by shared task interdependence.Team-level variables also were significantly related to individual-level outcomes such that individual expertise exchange happened more frequently in teams with well-developed team-level expertise dir...
TL;DR: Investigation of whether the reported use of textisms in daily electronic communication is related to the quality of writing found negative associations between reported textism use in daily communications and formal writing and positive associations between textisms use and informal writing.
Abstract: The Net Generation has adopted textisms as shortcuts in electronic communication. Two studies investigated whether the reported use of textisms in daily electronic communication is related to the quality of writing. Seven hundred and eighteen young adults were queried about how often they used linguistic and contextual textisms, instant messaging, monthly cell minutes, and monthly text messaging. In Study 1 they wrote a formal letter to a company and in Study 2 they were asked to write both a formal letter and provide an informal writing sample on happiness. Textism use was quite low, a finding that was consistent with previous research on texting and instant messaging. The data reflected negative associations between reported textism use in daily communications and formal writing and positive associations between textisms use and informal writing. These relationships varied by gender and level of education, varying most strongly among those without a college education. The results are discussed in terms ...
TL;DR: This paper examined the causal direction in the influence of presumed media influence using experimental methodology and found that people estimate the potential effects of media on other people and change their attitudes or behaviors as a consequence.
Abstract: According to the influence of presumed media influence hypothesis, people estimate the potential effects of media on other people and change their attitudes or behaviors as a consequence. In recent years, many studies offered some support for this idea. However, a central limitation of these studies is that all of them utilized correlational methodology and thus do not offer a valid way to infer causality. The current research examined the causal direction in the influence of presumed media influence using experimental methodology. In Study 1, the authors manipulated the perceived influence of watching pornography and measured the effects of this manipulation on support for censorship. In Study 2, perceptions regarding the influence of a news story about an expected shortage in sugar were manipulated indirectly, by manipulating the perceived exposure to the news story, and behavioral intentions resulting from the story were consequently measured. In both studies, results supported the causal direction pos...
TL;DR: Using experimental data, partial support is found for the idea that cooperative play modes prompt less aggressive cognition, and analysis of potential mediating variables along with the influence of gender suggests the effect is primarily explained by social learning rather than frustration.
Abstract: Although scholars have repeatedly linked video games to aggression, little research has investigated how specific game characteristics might generate such effects. In this study, we consider how game mode—cooperative, competitive, or solo—shapes aggressive cognition. Using experimental data, we find partial support for the idea that cooperative play modes prompt less aggressive cognition. Further analysis of potential mediating variables along with the influence of gender suggests the effect is primarily explained by social learning rather than frustration.
TL;DR: Findings suggest that the within-narrative variable of causality can influence the persuasive impact of information inserted into a narrative, and that information placed at causal locations of a narrative result in greater acceptance of information.
Abstract: Narratives represent a powerful and ubiquitous form of communication that influence what individuals believe about the world. While the field of narrative persuasion investigates how narratives affect attitudes and behaviors, it rarely considers structural variables discussed in the field of discourse psychology. This study examines the utility of bridging these fields by testing the persuasive influence of novel science information relative to the internal causal structure of a narrative. Results suggest that information placed at causal locations of a narrative result in greater acceptance of information than the same information placed at noncausal locations within the same narrative. These findings suggest that the within-narrative variable of causality can influence the persuasive impact of information inserted into a narrative. In response, this study identifies a significant source of variance that has thus far been overlooked in studies of narrative persuasion.
TL;DR: Results support the assumption that individuals high in need for affect experience higher levels of negative and ambivalent emotions and evaluate their emotions more positively on the level of meta-emotions.
Abstract: Audiences are attracted to dramas and horror movies even though negative and ambivalent emotions are likely to be experienced Research into the seemingly paradoxical enjoyment of this kind of media entertainment has typically focused on gender- and genre-specific needs and viewing motivations Extending this line of research, the authors focus the role of the need for affect as a more general, gender- and genre-independent predictor of individual differences in the experience of emotions and meta-emotions (ie, evaluative thoughts and feelings about one’s emotions) The article discusses a field study of moviegoers who attended the regular screening of a drama or a horror film Results support the assumption that individuals high in need for affect experience higher levels of negative and ambivalent emotions and evaluate their emotions more positively on the level of meta-emotions Controlling for the Big Five personality factors does not alter these effects The results are discussed within an extended meta-emotion framework
TL;DR: Findings suggest LDDR partners communicate in a manner to accentuate positive affect and minimize differences, and it is speculated that there might be negative ramifications of such communication patterns for partners’ informed decisions on relational investment.
Abstract: Based on interdependence theory, this study explores how the features of geographic separation are associated with the nature of dating partners’ talk throughout courtship. It is hypothesized that the communication of long-distance dating relationship (LDDR) partners, relative to that of geographically close dating relationship (GCDR) partners, reflects greater intimacy, greater conflict avoidance, greater topic avoidance, greater selective positive self-presentation, and less discussion of important premarital topics. Results supported these predictions. Findings suggest LDDR partners communicate in a manner to accentuate positive affect and minimize differences. Although these forms of communication can be effective for LDDR partners’ maintenance of satisfying relationships, it is speculated that there might be negative ramifications of such communication patterns for partners’ informed decisions on relational investment.
TL;DR: The results suggest how conversations with friends about sex influence adolescents’ intentions to initiate sexual intercourse, which in turn influence subsequent sexual initiation.
Abstract: This study identifies a theoretical mechanism through which communication with friends about sex influences sexual initiation in a sample of adolescents. The Integrative Model was used to assess the effect of attitudes, normative pressure and self efficacy on intentions to have sex in a sample of virgin adolescents. Results show that the constructs of the theory partially mediated the effect of communication with friends on subsequent sexual initiation. The effect of communication with friends on sexual initiation was not different for males and females. Overall, the results suggest how conversations with friends about sex influence adolescents’ intentions to initiate sexual intercourse, which in turn influence subsequent sexual initiation.
TL;DR: A theoretical framework by which it can be identified how media influence and social influence interplay and produce joint effects on adolescents’ materialistic values was proposed and tested with survey data of 697 adolescents in Singapore.
Abstract: This study proposed a theoretical framework by which it can be identified how media influence and social influence interplay and produce joint effects on adolescents’ materialistic values. The framework began with how adolescents estimate parents’ and friends’ materialistic values from media exposure and interpersonal communication and then facilitated an examination of how the parents’ and friends’ materialistic values, in turn, influence adolescents’ materialistic values. This framework was tested with survey data of 697 adolescents in Singapore. Results showed that an adolescent’s exposure to advertising was both directly and indirectly associated with his or her materialistic values. The indirect association was mediated by the adolescent’s perception of advertising effect on friends and by the adolescents’ interpersonal communication with parents and with friends.
TL;DR: The results show that countries more culturally like the United States tend to have box-office tastes more closely resembling those of American audiences for the same Hollywood titles than other countries do, indicating that the world’s tastes have become increasingly homogeneous.
Abstract: This study examines the cross-country homogeneity of audience tastes in theatrical consumption of Hollywood films. It constructs empirical schemes to measure and explain similarities between national cinema audiences in box-office acceptance of common sets of Hollywood movies, using annual 2002-2007 panel data of ticket-sales receipts worldwide at the country-by-film level. The results show that countries more culturally like the United States tend to have box-office tastes more closely resembling those of American audiences for the same Hollywood titles than other countries do. The similarity in movie taste is also positively related to an importing country’s cinema market size. Moreover, the tastes of individual countries have converged with those of American audiences over the years. Also, correlational statistics calculated from the country-by-film cross-tabulations of box-office sales uncover the trend that the world’s tastes have become increasingly homogeneous.
TL;DR: Light is shed on the process whereby anger and compassion influence negotiation performance and the proposition that trust and distrust represent two distinct psychological processes that are associated with different antecedents and consequences is supported.
Abstract: This study examined the influence of anger and compassion, two discrete emotions that differ in valence and appraisals, on negotiators’ interaction goals through trust and distrust, two related, but functionally distinct constructs. Findings showed that the influence of anger (a negative emotion with appraisal of other-person control) on perceived importance of competitively oriented goals was mediated by distrust, but not trust, whereas the influence of compassion (a positive emotion with appraisal of situational control) on perceived importance of cooperatively oriented goals was mediated by trust, but not distrust. This study not only sheds light on the process whereby anger and compassion influence negotiation performance but also supports the proposition that trust and distrust represent two distinct psychological processes that are associated with different antecedents and consequences.
TL;DR: Both studies suggest the contribution of one component of confirmation was enhanced by the presence of the other component in predicting weight management attitudes and behaviors.
Abstract: The current study employed a confirmation perspective to examine the relationship between communication with significant others and individuals’ weight management. Confirmation was conceptualized as consisting of two components—acceptance and challenge. In Study 1, 413 participants (aged 18-66) completed a survey assessing their diet and exercise behaviors as well as interactions with a significant other about weight management. As predicted, the combination of acceptance and challenge from significant others was related to the highest levels of body self-esteem, eating and exercise self-efficacy, and healthy eating behaviors beyond the individual effects of acceptance and challenge. In Study 2, 161 participants (aged 18-62) rated the effectiveness of messages varying in acceptance and challenge. Messages higher in both acceptance and challenge were rated as more effective in motivating healthy behaviors than messages primarily higher in either acceptance or challenge or lower in both. Overall, both studi...
TL;DR: Results showed that baseline viewing of music-oriented channels such as MTV and VH-1 robustly predicted increasing trajectories of smoking and of associating with smoking peers, even after application of a variety of controls including parent reports of monitoring behavior.
Abstract: Prior research has found strong evidence of a prospective association between R movie exposure and teen smoking. Using parallel process latent-growth modeling, the present study examines prospective associations between viewing of music video channels on television (e.g., MTV and VH-1) and changes over time in smoking and association with smoking peers. Results showed that baseline viewing of music-oriented channels such as MTV and VH-1 robustly predicted increasing trajectories of smoking and of associating with smoking peers, even after application of a variety of controls including parent reports of monitoring behavior. These results are consistent with the arguments from the reinforcing spirals model that such media use serves as a means of developing emergent adolescent social identities consistent with associating with smoking peers and acquiring smoking and other risk behaviors; evidence also suggests that media choice in reinforcing spiral processes are dynamic and evolve as social identity evolves.
TL;DR: Two explanations for the computers are social actors (CASA) paradigm are evaluated: anthropomorphism and mindlessness, which examine how humanlikeness of the interface, individuals’ rationality, and cognitive busyness moderate the extent to which people apply social attributes to computers.
Abstract: The present research evaluated two explanations for the computers are social actors (CASA) paradigm: anthropomorphism and mindlessness. Using flattery effects as an example of social responses, two experiments examined how humanlikeness of the interface, individuals’ rationality, and cognitive busyness moderate the extent to which people apply social attributes to computers. In Experiment 1, anthropomorphic cartoon characters elicited more positive overall evaluations of the computer, but they significantly reduced low rationals’ self-confidence, suggesting social facilitation effects. Moreover, low rationals were less likely to accept the computer’s suggestions when flattered, whereas high rationals showed no corresponding tendency. In Experiment 2, although participants attributed greater social attractiveness to the flattering than generic-comment computer, they became more suspicious about the validity of its claims and more likely to dismiss its answer. Such negative effects, however, disappeared whe...
TL;DR: Watching Lie to Me decreases truth bias thereby increasing suspicion of others while at the same time reducing deception detection ability, and viewers were no better at distinguishing truths from lies but were more likely than control participants to misidentify honest interviewees as deceptive.
Abstract: The new television series Lie to Me portrays a social scientist solving crimes through his ability to read nonverbal communication. Promotional materials claim the content is based on actual science. Participants (N = 108) watched an episode of Lie to Me, a different drama, or no program and then judged a series of honest and deceptive interviews. Lie to Me viewers were no better at distinguishing truths from lies but were more likely than control participants to misidentify honest interviewees as deceptive. Watching Lie to Me decreases truth bias thereby increasing suspicion of others while at the same time reducing deception detection ability.
TL;DR: Delayed responses to news valence, delay before response, and reluctance were linearly related to test score suggesting both eagerness to share good news and reluctance to share bad news.
Abstract: The MUM effect refers to the robust research finding that people are more hesitant to share bad news relative to good news. An experiment utilized a false feedback test design to determine whether the MUM effect stems from a reluctance to share bad news, an eagerness to share good news, or both. Participants (N = 114) shared good, neutral, or bad news (i.e., high, medium, or low test scores) to a stranger. News valence, delay before response, and reluctance were measured. Delay before response and reluctance were linearly related to test score suggesting both eagerness to share good news and reluctance to share bad news. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.
TL;DR: This article combines uncertainty reduction theory and politeness theory to deduce hypotheses about how relational uncertainty may predict appraisals of face threat and discusses the implications for understanding relational uncertainty, politeness, and appraisal of facethreat.
Abstract: This article combines uncertainty reduction theory and politeness theory to deduce hypotheses about how relational uncertainty may predict appraisals of face threat. Participants were 273 individuals who (a) reported on relational uncertainty; (b) simulated leaving a voice mail message for their dating partner to address the assigned goal of catching up, sharing information, giving comfort, or receiving comfort; and (c) evaluated the face threats of their message. As expected, relational uncertainty was positively associated with appraisals of face threat, and it was negatively associated with the extremity of appraisals of face threat, even after judges’ ratings of face management strategies were covaried. The article closes by discussing the implications for understanding relational uncertainty, politeness, and appraisals of face threat.
TL;DR: Results from an experiment suggested that alcohol advertisements had more measurable effects on implicit than on explicit attitude measures, and associations were found supportive of an evaluative conditioning mechanism, in which positive responses to an alcohol advertisement may lead to more positive automatically activated attitudes toward alcohol.
Abstract: Alcohol advertisements may influence impulsive, risky behaviors indirectly, via automatically-activated attitudes toward alcohol. Results from an experiment in which participants were exposed to either four alcohol advertisements, four control advertisements, or four drunk driving public service advertisements, suggested that alcohol advertisements had more measurable effects on implicit, than on explicit attitude measures. Moreover, there were significant indirect paths from alcohol advertisement exposure through automatically-activated alcohol attitudes on willingness to engage in risky alcohol-related behaviors, notably drinking and driving. A mechanism that may explain how these advertisements activate automatic, non-deliberative alcohol attitudes was investigated. Associative evidence was found supportive of an evaluative conditioning mechanism, in which positive responses to an alcohol advertisement may lead to more positive automatically-activated attitudes toward alcohol itself.
TL;DR: Structural equations modeling of the role of class-and ethnic-based identity in self-perceived web-based information seeking/finding and self-efficacy indicate that these identities influence perceptions of online information seeking.
Abstract: The web is a potentially powerful tool for communicating information to diverse audiences Unfortunately, all groups are not equally represented on the web, and this may have implications for online information seeking This study investigated the role of class-and ethnic-based identity in self-perceived web-based information seeking/finding and self-efficacy A questionnaire is administered, asking African Americans about their class and ethnic identities and web use to test a conceptual model predicting that these identities are positively related to web-based information seeking and web self-efficacy, which are then positively related to web-based information finding Gender and previous web experience are expected to moderate the relationships Structural equations modeling of these data support most of the predictions and indicate that these identities influence perceptions of online information seeking