Believe it or not: Factors influencing credibility on the Web (original) (raw)
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Journal of The American Society for Information Science and Technology, 2007
Internet users need to assess the credibility of online information. The article reviews current recommendations for credibility assessment, empirical research on how users determine the credibility of Internet information, and describes several cognitive models of online information evaluation. Based on the literature review and critique of existing models of credibility assessment, recommendations for future online credibility education and practice are provided to assist users in locating reliable information online. The article concludes by offering ideas for research and theory development on this topic in an effort to advance knowledge in the area of credibility assessment of Internet-based information.
Factors and effects of information credibility
Proceedings of the ninth international conference on Electronic commerce - ICEC '07, 2007
Information credibility is important to Web advice vendors because website success hinges on how credible the consumers consider the information on the website. Unless consumers believe the website’s information is credible, they are not likely to be willing to act on the advice and will not develop loyalty to the website. This paper reports on an empirical study of how individual differences and initial website impressions affect perceptions of information credibility of an unfamiliar advice website. With an unfamiliar website, consumers cannot build credibility experientially because they have not yet interacted with the website. Thus, credibility must be based upon individual differences (e.g., risk propensity) and first impressions of the website (e.g., perceived reputation). Results confirm that several individual difference variables (risk propensity, faith in technology, and suspicion of humanity) and initial impression variables (perceived reputation, perceived website quality, and willingness to explore the website) play an important role in developing information credibility of an unfamiliar website, with first impressions and individual differences playing equivalent roles. Study results also confirm how vital information credibility is by demonstrating it positively influences willingness to act on website advice and perceived consumer loyalty toward the website. One interesting aspect of the study is that it found information credibility to be a construct distinct from trusting beliefs. Implications are included about ways website information credibility can be built quickly.
Trusting the Internet: Cues Affecting Perceived Credibility
2008
Web sites that could affect credibility beliefs about Web site information: domain suffixes (e.g., .com, .edu), quality seals, and organizations/domain names. Two studies were carried out involving a total of 433 participants. One had 247 participants (171 undergraduates and 76 non-student adults) and the other had 186 participants (89 undergraduates and 97 non-students). Results indicated that participants who reported spending greater time on the Internet showed significantly higher trust ratings on several components than those who reported spending less time on the Internet. Participants had difficulty discriminating between actual and fictitious quality seals and organization/domain names, with several fictitious ones judged as or more trustworthy than actual ones.
Part 1: The Determination of Web Credibility: A Thematic Analysis of Web User's Judgments
Qualitative Research Reports in Communication, 2010
This research explored how web users make credibility judgments of web sites. Three focus groups each examined three web sites and were questioned regarding their judgments of each site's credibility. 629 comments were generated by the three focus groups. Each comment was coded into 12 categories representing the factors impacting web credibility judgments: authority, page layout, site motive, URL, crosscheckability, user motive, content, date, professionalism, site familiarity, process, and personal beliefs. Each factor is discussed in terms of its relevance pertaining to web credibility.
Annals of the International Communication Association, 2003
Technological capabilities and features of the Internet and World Wide Web have prompted concerns about the verity of online information, the credibility of new media, and the new responsibilities placed on media consumers. Reflecting these concerns, scholars have shown a renewed interest in the credibility of sources, their messages, and the media that carry them. Nonetheless, researchers who are currently reengaging the issue of information credibility have yet to take full advantage of the rich heritage left by credibility research conducted over the last half century. The primary aim of this chapter is to show how past research can inform present attempts to understand credibility in the new media environment, focusing particularly on Web-based information. Toward that end, this chapter reviews, synthesizes, and integrates the substantial literature on source, message, and media credibility; addresses issues of credibility conceptualization, operationalization, and measurement; suggests strategies to empower online users and information providers; and culminates with strategies for credibility research and an agenda for the study of credibility in the contemporary media environment.
The 2nd workshop on information credibility on the web (WICOW 2008)
2009
Research on credibility of web content is becoming increasingly important due to low publishing barriers and resulting abundance of untrustworthy or conflicting information on the web. On the 30th October 2008 the 2nd Workshop on Information Credibility on the web was held as part of CIKM 2009 conference in Napa Valley, USA. Nine full and six short papers were accepted and grouped into four sessions. In addition, two keynote speeches have been delivered. This report outlines the main results of the workshop.
What makes Web sites credible?: a report on a large quantitative study
Computer Human Interaction, 2001
The credibility of web sites is becoming an increasingly important area to understand. To expand knowledge in this domain, we conducted an online study that investigated how different elements of Web sites affect people's perception of credibility. Over 1400 people participated in this study, both from the U.S. and Europe, evaluating 51 different Web site elements. The data showed which
WEB CREDIBILITY: A LITERATURE BASED OVERVIEW
Web sites provide enormous information to the users, especially the academic web sites. The credibility of information provided by the academic web sites becomes more important. Numerous measures are available for measuring the website. But, the contents of web sites are considered as web credibility. The webometrics and web credibility are synonymously used by the research. This study identified the difference between webometrics and web credibility. Further, the study provides different types of web credibility and its taxonomy. Various evaluation methods of web credibility have also been suggested. The study provides various evaluation methods. Thus, a brief overview on web credibility has been presented in this paper.
Credibility of Information on e-commerce websites
The purpose of this research is to better understand how consumers assess the credibility of information on e-commerce websites. Particularly of interest is the case where there are possibly multiple resources supplying information about the product on the same website. A qualitative research methodology was pursued. Eight internet users were interviewed and the transcribed data was analysed using thematic analysis. The researchers also applied corroboration techniques across media, websites, within websites and against prior knowledge to verify claims in the information. The findings show that Internet users judged the credibility of information by cues and judgements on website and information elements and the perceived source of the information. The credibility of the source greatly influences judgements on the information. Sources that are perceived to be trustworthy and objective are judged to be credible and are hence mentioned in this research. The findings produced mainly theoretical implications for the field of online consumer research.