Intention to apply Artificial Intelligence using fact checking tools in disaster management

Abstract

The daily dissemination of a substantial amount of information concerning to disasters and crises on social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter in one side, and the sensitivity of this information, on the other hand, underscores the importance of evaluating the credibility of online information in this area. Fact-checking tools employing artificial intelligence represent a novel approach to verifying the validity of online information across various fields, including disaster management. The inclination of individuals to utilize fact-checking tools in such circumstances is influenced by their perceptions. Although there is a limited studies on the impact of perceptions and information processing on the intention to employ fact-checking tools in disaster-related contexts, it is anticipated that factors like critical thinking, as a concept that involves meticulous assessment of unclear or requiring careful consideration, heuristic processing, a concept indicating acceptance of news content without filtering, and the new-source tracking a concept demonstrating openness and positivity towards social media information, play pivotal roles in predicting this intention. Consequently, a conceptual framework was formulated wherein critical thinking, aside from its direct impact on the intention to use fact-checking tools, also exerts influence through two mediators of information processing and the new source tracking variables. This study's framework was examined using data from 202 respondents across various European countries, collected through an online survey. The conceptual framework analysised utilizing AMOS software. Descriptive findings indicate a moderate level of familiarity with misinformation detection tools among respondents (M=2.65; sd=1.04). Respondents exhibited close knowledge levels regarding fact-checking tools such as Rbutr, Foller, me and Botometer, Fakespot, NewsGuard, and Greek Hoaxes Detector, ranging between approximately (1.57-1.70). Contrary to initial expectations, the study's results reveal that critical thinking, was unable to directly predict the intention to use fact-checking tools. However, the indirect effect of critical thinking was confirmed through the two mediators of new source tracking and information processing (heuristic processing). Critical thinking significantly influenced the new source tracking (β=.49; p <0.0001) and heuristic processing (β=.41; p <0.0001). Both new source tracking (β=.19; p=0.043) and heuristic information processing (β=.31; p=0.001) emerged as direct predictors of the intention to use fact-checking tools. The evidence examined in this study provides empirical support that the conceptual framework has been able to predict 22% of the changes in the intention to use fact checking tools and still a significant amount of it needs to be researched.