The Effects of Anthropomorphism on How People Evaluate Algorithm-Written News. Issue 1 (2nd January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jang, Wonseok (Eric); Chun, Jung Won; Kim, Soojin; Kang, Young Woo
• Is Part Of: Digital journalism. Volume 11:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 103
• Page End: 124
• Publication Date: 2023-01-02
• Subjects: Computational journalism -- anthropomorphism theory -- algorithm -- emotional involvement -- news evaluation; Online journalism -- Periodicals; 070.40285
• DOI: 10.1080/21670811.2021.1976064
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2167-0811

Abstract

Abstract: Based on the Modality-Agency-Interactivity-Navigability model and the anthropomorphism theory, this study examines whether embedding human-like characteristics in algorithms increases the persuasiveness of algorithm-written news. This study further investigates how different types of relationships (servant or friend) that human writers form with algorithms determine the persuasiveness of algorithm-generated news. Experiment 1 demonstrated that participants who read the human- and humanized algorithm-written news showed greater emotional involvement in the stories and liked the articles more than those who read the algorithm-written news. The participants also reported that news written by humans, humanized algorithms, and algorithms, had equal news credibility. Experiment 2 further showed that the participants perceived the news as more credible and experienced greater degrees of emotional involvement when human writers formed a partner-to-friend relationship with humanized algorithms while generating news rather than a servant-to-master relationship.