When off-line seeks information online: The effect of modality switching and time on attributional confidence and social attraction

Abstract

This study’s goal was to learn how adding the extractive information-seeking behavior of Facebook profile viewing following face-to-face information-seeking behavior in initial interactions affected attributional confidence (AC) and social attraction (SA). Additionally, the present study was a quasi-replication of research exploring how changes in time spent on information seeking impacted AC and SA testing two uncertainty reduction theory axioms. Two modalities, face-to-face (FtF) only versus FtF and profile viewing, across three time conditions of 4, 6, and 8 minutes yielded six experimental conditions. AC for the two modalities were similar when time was held constant. Comparing the two modalities for 8 minutes resulted in higher social attraction for the FtF-only condition. Also, the data report a significant interaction with modality and time. Time impacts AC and SA even with relatively small changes.