Selective Use of News Cues: A Multiple‐Motive Perspective on Information Selection in Social Media Environments. (8th August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Winter, Stephan; Metzger, Miriam J.; Flanagin, Andrew J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of communication. Volume 66:Number 4(2016:Aug.)
• Page Start: 669
• Page End: 693
• Publication Date: 2016-08-08
• Subjects: Selective Exposure -- Online News -- Social Media -- Social Recommendations -- Heuristic‐Systematic Model; Communication -- Periodicals; Communication and traffic -- Periodicals; Information theory -- Periodicals; Mass media -- Periodicals; 302.2
• DOI: 10.1111/jcom.12241
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9916

Abstract

Abstract : This study investigated the effects of message and social cues on selective exposure to political information in a social media environment. Based on the heuristic‐systematic model, we hypothesized that readers' selective consideration of specific cues can be explained by situational motivations. In an experiment ( N = 137), subjects primed with motivational goals (accuracy, defense, or impression motivations, as well as a control group) were asked to search for information. Participants preferred attitude‐consistent information and balanced information over attitude‐inconsistent information, and also preferred highly recommended articles. Defense‐motivated partisans exhibited a stronger confirmation bias, whereas impression motivation amplified the effects of social recommendations. These findings specify the conditions under which individuals engage in narrow, open‐minded, or social patterns of information selection.