Motivation with misinformation: Conceptualizing lacuna individuals and publics as knowledge-deficient, issue-negative activists. Issue 4 (4th July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Krishna, Arunima
• Is Part Of: Journal of public relations research. Volume 29:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 176
• Page End: 193
• Publication Date: 2017-07-04
• Subjects: Activism -- fake news -- knowledge deficiency -- lacuna -- situational theory -- vaccines; Public relations -- Periodicals; Public relations -- Research -- Periodicals; 659.205
• DOI: 10.1080/1062726X.2017.1363047
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1062-726X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: As fake news continues to abound on the Internet, the need for theorizing on the impact of misinformation on individuals' perceptions of various social issues is dire. Using the issue of vaccine negativity in the United States, this study proposes the idea of lacuna individuals as issue-specific active publics holding negative attitudes and having deficient issue-specific knowledge. Results reveal that knowledge-deficient, vaccine-negative individuals display higher levels of perceptions, motivations, and active communication behaviors about vaccines. Results, therefore, support the conceptualization of lacuna individuals, and publics, as knowledge-deficient activists holding high levels of negative attitudes.