An online activity diary method for studying credibility assessment on the Web

Abstract

In recent years people have increasingly moved beyond information searching and reading of online content in their use of the Web, engaging in diverse activities such as sharing photographs and videos, rating and reviewing products and services, and blogging about their interests and everyday life activities. According to a recent Pew report, 23% of American adults are “heavy teach adopters” who are more likely to undertake information activities involving sharing something online, posting comments to a website, creating their own web pages, working on blogs, and taking online materials and remixing them (Horrigan, 2007). Another recent Pew Internet study reports that the number of adult Web users who have a profile on an online social network site has grown from 8% in 2005 to 35% in 2008 (Lenhart, 2009). One of the consequences of increasing user participation on the Web is that credibility assessment is now situated in diverse online activities and contexts. A new set of credibility research questions arise – for example, what are the credibility assessment heuristics people use when deciding to contribute original content or post content they found elsewhere? Do these heuristics differ depending on whether they are creating their own online content or commenting on an online forum? The individuals who are undertaking information activities to contribute and mediate online content deserve close attention from credibility researchers because they are influencing other users to a great extent as well as making the Web more a dynamic and interactive place. There is little research examining credibility assessment heuristics across the range of online activities on the Web.This study examines credibility assessment in the Web 2.0 context as part of a research project funded by the MacArthur Foundation. The research activities involved in this project include: (1) Web-based online information activity diary survey; (2) phone interviews with participatory Web users; and (3) experimental studies to collect behavioral data with respect to the application of credibility assessment heuristics in the processes of information seeking and content creation. This poster reports on the first research activity, the use of an online activity diary method for studying credibility assessment.This study specifically addresses the following research questions: