Credibility Assessment Research Articles

Transnational Chinese students’ online information literacies during the COVID-19 pandemic

Using a transnational lens, this narrative study examines the online information literacies of six Chinese international graduate students in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data of the study were collected from phenomenological interviewing, weekly information-seeking dairies, and focus group discussions. This study illuminates Chinese international students’ transnational information literacies in navigating the pandemic online information environment. These students stayed attuned with the pandemic conditions and relevant regulations in order to inform their important decision-making concerning health, safety, visa issues, and international travel. The study also highlights participants' cultural ways of information seeking and pragmatic approaches to information credibility assessment. Results from the study show the importance of understanding and empowering the information literacy of international students, especially during a global health emergency.

Blockchain‐enhanced trust management for mobile edge computing‐enabled intelligent vehicular collaboration in the 6G era

AbstractThe rapid development and increasing popularity of mobile devices have facilitated the development of computation‐intensive applications and services, but their constrained compute, storage and battery capabilities have also created the requirements for optimized resource provision and service orchestration. Emerging mobile edge computing (MEC) and next‐generation networks (6G) can meet these requirements of mobile devices by migrating complex computing tasks and large volumes of data to edge servers with acceptable latency, thus effectively enhancing the quality of experience (QoE) of mobile users. Intelligent Vehicular Collaboration, as an intelligent mobile application or service in intelligent connected vehicle (ICV) applications, enables precise and effective driving decisions based on a large amount of real‐time traffic information statistics and intelligent analysis of vehicle status to improve the user driving experience and the efficiency of intelligent transportation systems(ITS). However, the openness and dynamics of wireless communications and the high frequency of information interaction of MEC‐enabled intelligent vehicular collaboration services in the 6G era make them highly vulnerable to cyber attacks. How to achieve dynamically trustworthy, secure, and intelligent vehicular collaboration services in the presence of malicious node access and cyber attacks in the 6G MEC‐enabled vehicular network is a significant challenge. In this paper, we propose a novel blockchain‐enabled trust management mechanism to address this challenge. First, we design a spatiotemporal‐correlated message credibility assessment method and a dynamic mutual trust evaluation method to obtain accurate ratings for messages and mobile nodes respectively. Based on the above methods, we propose an improved blockchain‐based intelligent trust management mechanism that enables transparent, tamper‐evident, and trustworthy secure intelligent vehicular collaboration services while maintaining stable and efficient system performance. Simulation results show that our suggested solutions can efficiently evaluate the trust level of ICVs and achieve efficient and secure intelligent vehicular collaboration with acceptable communication and computation overheads.

The Many Faces of Credibility: Hawks, Doves, and Nuclear Disarmament

The conventional wisdom in international relations holds that an actor’s past record of keeping her word determines her cooperative credibility, and that mutual perceptions of credibility are essential in sustaining cooperation. Yet competing reputation-skeptic and psychological perspectives dispute this conventional wisdom, suggesting that assessments of cooperative credibility result from observers’ judgments about the other’s capabilities and interests or observers’ foreign policy orientations. How do observers assess others’ cooperative credibility? We field a nationally representative survey experiment asking 2,953 Americans to evaluate a hypothetical coercer’s commitment to lift sanctions on a would-be proliferator in exchange for the latter dismantling its nascent nuclear program. We vary the coercer’s previous behavior plus several other contextual factors. We find that respondents’ hawkishness interacts with the coercer’s past actions to shape respondents’ credibility assessments and their support for the proliferator accepting the proposal, with substantial implications for theories of misperception and bargaining.

Individual differences in self-reported lie detection abilities.

Previous literature on lie detection abilities bears an interesting paradox. On the group level, people detect others' lies at guessing level. However, when asked to evaluate their own abilities, people report being able to detect lies (i.e., self-reported lie detection). Understanding this paradox is important because decisions which rely on credibility assessment and deception detection can have serious implications (e.g., trust in others, legal issues). In two online studies, we tested whether individual differences account for variance in self-reported lie detection abilities. We assessed personality traits (Big-Six personality traits, Dark Triad), empathy, emotional intelligence, cultural values, trust level, social desirability, and belief in one's own lie detection abilities. In both studies, mean self-reported lie detection abilities were above chance level. Then, lower out-group trust and higher social desirability levels predicted higher self-reported lie detection abilities. These results suggest that social trust and norms shape our beliefs about our own lie detection abilities.

Justice in English-Only

Australia has long sought to portray itself as a proudly multicultural nation that claims to welcome and celebrate cultural and linguistic diversity. This article seeks to illustrate how the law, legal discourse and precedent continue to exclude and symbolically punish language-minoritised people, through reinforcing unofficial ‘English-only’ rules. This is accompanied by efforts to deny or downplay the racialised effects of linguistic marginalisation. ‘Equality’ discourses are especially powerful in this kind of denialism, where particular groups are portrayed as equally disadvantaged by particular language requirements needed to exercise and operationalise certain legal rights. This construct of a ‘shared inequality’ when it comes to language is effective in denying that laws can operate in a racially discriminatory manner. At an interactional level, racialised ‘English-only’ rules are reinforced through the policing and assessing of the language practices of minoritised witnesses and accused people. Speaking the ‘right way’ becomes particularly relevant when courtroom credibility assessments are tied to how a person speaks. In this regards, English monolingualism is constructed as the normative benchmark against which the linguistic and racial ‘Other’ is adjudged. This means that a failure to meet this standard can become a basis for questioning a person's credibility and believability as a witness.

Safety instrumented system design with credible failure rates: The key to achieving plant safety

AbstractThe influence of the dangerous undetected failure rate, ƛdu, on safety instrumented system (SIS) design has evolved over last 30 years. Now, ƛdu has a significant impact on the SIS design. Using unrealistically low ƛdu can lead to an unsafe SIS design and thus compromise the plant safety. This paper explains some of the reasons why some published ƛdu could be unrealistically low. To address this challenge, ISA TR84 committee Working Group 02 has undertaken an effort to develop a failure rate credibility assessment tool. In this tool, the user will answer a series of questions, and the weighted score of answers will provide a credibility rank for the published device failure rate. This paper will explain the approach of this tool, its target users, and its benefits.

Air data computer simulation and design credibility assessment considering ADC calculation model

Abstract Air data computer simulation system is a platform for studying aircraft air data system. It can also replace real air data computer and can be used in the experiment of ground integrated avionics system, which greatly reduces the cost and risk of the experiment. However, when the simulation system replaces the real system, whether its reliability, integrity and other indicators can meet the requirements becomes the key to the problem. Based on computer simulation theory and simulation credibility evaluation theory, this paper designs and implements two types of atmospheric data computer simulation systems and evaluates the credibility of the simulation systems. The basic theory of computer simulation and the general process of simulation are expounded, the evaluation theory of simulation credibility is introduced, and the evaluation calculation method of simulation credibility is given. The results show that the highest reliability of the reliability evaluation using the method in this paper reaches 90%, the highest error rate is 0.06%, and the average accuracy, efficiency and complexity of the hundred experiments are 97.31% and 97.00% and 0.154%. The highest reliability of the subjective comprehensive evaluation algorithm for reliability evaluation is 65%, the highest error rate is 0.27%, and the average accuracy, efficiency and complexity of the hundred experiments are 70.59% and 69.74%, and 0.502%. Therefore, the method in this paper not only has high reliability, low error rate, but also has strong comprehensive effectiveness.

What Influences Audience Susceptibility to Fake Health News: An Experimental Study Using a Dual Model of Information Processing in Credibility Assessment

ABSTRACT This experimental study investigates the effects of several heuristic cues and systematic factors on users’ misinformation susceptibility in the context of health news. Specifically, it examines whether author credentials, writing style, and verification check flagging influence participants’ intent to follow article behavioral recommendations provided by the article, perceived article credibility, and sharing intent. Findings suggest that users rely only on verification checks (passing/failing) in assessing information credibility. Of the two antecedents to systematic processing, social media self-efficacy moderates the links between verification and participants’ susceptibility. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Source, message and medium? The role of personal values in forming credibility perceptions of non-sponsored product review videos

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate an integrated, holistic assessment of the characteristics by which consumers judge non-sponsored product review video (PRV) source, message and medium components as credible, and how these are linked to personal values for a deeper understanding of multidimensional credibility assessments of PRVs.Design/methodology/approachEmploying a means-end approach, the authors draw on credibility theory and the persuasion knowledge model to analyse data from 21 in-depth semi-structured laddering interviews.FindingsFirst, the authors demonstrate distinctive contributions of the video modality towards PRV credibility assessments and the interplay between specific PRV characteristics, cognitive and socio-emotional consequences, and personal values in an ongoing process of credibility assessment. Second, high persuasion knowledge creates awareness of the potential phoniness of the market, revealing a dark side to PRV use even in non-sponsored PRV seemingly created and shared as an act of benevolent concern between consumers.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper focused on the credibility of non-sponsored PRVs, future studies might investigate motivations and attributes by which users judge sponsored reviews. Also, the roles of specific product categories and existing brand trust on PRVs credibility provide avenues for further research.Practical implicationsThis research offers practical implications for reviewers and brand managers to leverage the unique informational values of video by focusing on the interplay between credibility attributes and customer values.Originality/valueThis work advances credibility theory in the PRV context by examining how non-sponsored PRVs are evaluated as credible, by highlighting consumer persuasion knowledge and scepticism and including the holistic effects of the interplay between source, message and video format characteristics and by linking these to consumers’ goals and values.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T and A1298C polymorphisms and gastric cancer susceptibility: an updated meta-analysis.

Widely regarded as one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide, gastric cancer (GC) is a common clinical condition of the digestive system. Reviewing 14 meta-analyses that evaluated the association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms and GC risk, we observed inconsistent results, and the credibility of the significant correlation between the statistical results was ignored. With the aim of further exploring the association between MTHFR C677T and A1298C and the risk of GC, we searched electronic databases, pooling 43 relevant studies and calculating odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each of the five genetic models. Subgroup and regression analyses were performed to look for sources of heterogeneity and publication bias was assessed by funnel plots. To assess the plausibility of statistically significant associations, we used the FPRP test and the Venice criteria. Overall data analysis showed that MTHFR C677T polymorphism was significantly associated with GC risk, especially in Asians, while MTHFR A1298C polymorphism was not associated with GC risk. However, in subgroup analysis by hospital-based controls, we found that MTHFR A1298C might be a protective factor for GC. After credibility assessment, the statistical association between MTHFR C677T and GC susceptibility study was classified as 'less credible positive result', while the result of MTHFR A1298C was considered unreliable. In summary, the present study strongly suggests that MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms are not significantly associated with the GC risk.

Googling preterm prelabour rupture of the membranes: A systematic review of patient information available on the internet.

Preterm prelabour rupture of the membranes (PPROM) complicates 3% of pregnancies and is associated with an increased risk of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. In an attempt to better understand this diagnosis, patients routinely resort to the internet for medical information. The lack of governance online leaves patients at risk of relying on low-quality websites. To assess systematically the accuracy, quality, readability and credibility of World Wide Web pages on PPROM. Five search engines (Google, AOL, Yahoo, Ask and Bing) were searched with location services and browser history disabled. Websites from the first page of all searches were included. Websites were included if they provided at least 300 words of health information aimed at patients relating to PPROM. Validated assessments of health information readability, credibility and quality were undertaken, as was an accuracy assessment. Pertinent facts for accuracy assessment were based on feedback from healthcare professionals and patients through a survey. Characteristics were tabulated. In all, 39 websites were included, with 31 different texts. No pages were written with a reading age of 11 years or less, none were considered credible, and only three were high quality. An accuracy score of 50% or more was obtained by 45% of websites. Information that patients considered pertinent was not consistently reported. Search engines produce information on PPROM that is low quality, low accuracy and not credible. It is also difficult to read. This risks disempowerment. Healthcare professionals and researchers must consider how to ensure patients have access to information that they can recognise as high quality.

Tweet Trajectory and AMPS-based Contextual Cues can Help Users Identify Misinformation

Well-intentioned users sometimes enable the spread of misinformation due to limited context about where the information originated and/or why it is spreading. Building upon recommendations based on prior research about tackling misinformation, we explore the potential to support media literacy through platform design. We develop and design an intervention consisting of a tweet trajectory-to illustrate how information reached a user-and contextual cues-to make credibility judgments about accounts that amplify, manufacture, produce, or situate in the vicinity of problematic content (AMPS). Using a research through design approach, we demonstrate how the proposed intervention can help discern credible actors, challenge blind faith amongst online friends, evaluate the cost of associating with online actors, and expose hidden agendas. Such facilitation of credibility assessment can encourage more responsible sharing of content. Through our findings, we argue for using trajectory-based designs to support informed information sharing, advocate for feature updates that nudge users with reflective cues, and promote platform-driven media literacy.

Advantages of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and matched studies.

We sought to provide a meta-analysis and credibility assessment of available randomized controlled trials and propensity score matched studies when assessing early and oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy compared with open distal pancreatectomy. The MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were searched for pertinent literature up to June 2022. Random-effect meta-analyses were applied. Trial sequential analysis was applied to verify whether results were true- or false-positive or -negative findings. Thirteen studies were identified (2 randomized controlled trials and 11 propensity score matched studies). The early outcomes were assessed on 12 studies, including 4,346 patients. In this population, laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy decreased postoperative stay (mean difference= 1.8 days; P= .001) and estimated blood loss (mean difference= 148 mL; P= .001), and trial sequential analysis confirmed these as true-positive findings. Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy and open distal pancreatectomy had similar operating times (P= .165), and trial sequential analysis confirmed this as a true-negative finding. Major morbidity, mortality, and readmission were similar, but results were inconclusive by trial sequential analysis. Oncologic outcomes were assessed on 5 studies, including 2,430 patients. In this population, laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy showed higher R0 resection rate (OR= 1.46; P= .001) and shorter time to adjuvant therapy (mean difference 4.0 days P= .003). A survival benefit was observed at 1 year after laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (OR= 1.45; P= .001), which was not confirmed at 3 years (P= .650). Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy is superior to open distal pancreatectomy for most of the early outcomes analyzed. The operating time was equalized as a result of the learning curve. Results from patients with pancreatic cancer suggest at least an oncologic noninferiority of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy compared with open distal pancreatectomy.

Scientific Information Literacy: Adaption of Concepts and an Investigation Into the Chinese Public

Many studies have developed the concepts and measurements of scientific and information literacy. However, the changes in the media environment, the complexity of scientific information, and low entry barriers have brought new challenges to scientific information communication. A single scientific or information literacy concept cannot provide a clear overview of the competencies and literacy required for individuals to access scientific information in new media contexts. This study aims to adapt the existing concepts and measurement frameworks related to information literacy in science communication and to investigate scientific information literacy and the demographic differences among the Chinese public through a cross-sectional survey (<em>N</em> = 2,983). The results showed that compared to self-directed information acquisition, accurate information filtering, and information sharing and dissemination, the Chinese public has relatively lower levels of information credibility assessment and opinion expression. Besides, the scientific literacy levels among the Chinese public had significant differences according to gender, age, and education. This study argues that adapting current information literacy concepts into science communication can promote public understanding of scientific information. The concept of scientific information literacy should be considered as a means of understanding the impact of new media on scientific information communication. The contribution of this study is that it adapts existing concepts into a novel context, further enriching the empirical research on scientific literacy and the research perspective on science communication.

An extension minimal important difference credibility item addressing construct proximity is a reliable alternative to the correlation item

ObjectivesMinimal important difference (MID), the smallest change or difference that patients perceive as important, aids interpretation of change in patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) scores. A credibility instrument that assesses the methodological rigor of an anchor-based MID includes one core item addressing the correlation between the PROM and the anchor. However, the majority of MID studies in the literature fail to report the correlation. To address this issue, we extended the anchor-based MID credibility instrument by adding an item addressing construct proximity as an alternative to the correlation item. Study Design and SettingInformed by an MID methodological survey, we added an alternative item—a subjective assessment of similarity of the constructs (i.e., construct proximity) between PROM and anchor—to the correlation item and generated principles for the assessment. We sampled 101 MIDs and analyzed the assessments performed by each pair of raters. By calculating weighted Cohen’s kappa, we assessed the reliability of the assessments. ResultsConstruct proximity assessment is based on the anticipated association between the anchor and PROM constructs: the closer the anticipated association, the higher the rating. Our detailed principles address the most frequently used anchors: transition ratings, measures of satisfaction, other PROMs, and clinical measures. The assessments showed acceptable agreement (weighted kappa 0.74, 95% CI 0.55–0.94) between raters. ConclusionIn the absence of a reported correlation coefficient, construct proximity assessment provides a useful alternative in the credibility assessment of anchor-based MID estimates.

Moving Toward a Question-Centric Approach for Regulatory Decision Making in the Context of Drug Assessment.

The most intuitive question for market access for medicinal products is the benefit/risk (B/R) balance. The B/R assessment can conceptually be divided into subquestions related to establishing efficacy and safety. There are additional layers to the B/R ratio for medical products, including questions related to dose selection, clinical and nonclinical pharmacology, and drug quality. Explicitly stating the actual questions and how they contribute to the overall B/R provides a structure that fosters better informed cross-domain discussions. There is currently no systematic approach in the regulatory setting to assess and establish the acceptability of alternative methods and data sources. In most cases, the medicinal product sponsors tend to prioritize traditional data types and methods, which are well accepted by regulators for inclusion in regulatory submissions. This, in addition to the absence of rigor in the use and validation of new data types and methods, and the limited training of assessors in related fields can lead to increased regulatory skepticism toward new data types and methods. A data-knowledge backbone is needed to mitigate the uncertainty in efficacy and safety characterization. This white paper discusses the value of explicitly redefining and restructuring the regulatory scientific decision making around the scientific question to be addressed. The ecosystem proposed is based on three pillars: (i) a repository connecting questions, data, and methods; (ii) the development and validation of high-quality standards for data and methods; and (iii) credibility assessment. The ecosystem is applied to four use cases for illustration. The need for training and regulatory guidance is also discussed.

An Empirical Analysis of Credibility Assessment in German Asylum Cases

AbstractThis study analyzes empirically how 236 German court decisions assess the credibility of asylum seekers’ accounts of their persecution. In their reasoning, the courts rely on generally accepted content-based credibility criteria, including consistency, level of detail, and timeliness of the claim. But they also rely on conduct-based criteria, which have been resoundingly discredited in the relevant scientific literature. Too rarely, the courts considered confounding factors such as cultural distance or interpreter mistakes. They need to be more aware of their duty to confront applicants with negative credibility criteria. Article 4 (5) Qualification Directive played no role whatsoever in the sample analyzed in this study, which can be explained by specifics of German asylum law.The human judgment that is required in the balancing of credibility criteria and confounding factors is problematic for its subjectivity but unavoidable. Attempts at replacing this human credibility assessment with seemingly objective technical means have led to arbitrary decisions and encroached gravely on applicants’ human rights. While the credibility assessment procedure employed in German courts is far from flawless, it can produce convincing decisions. It should be further refined and provided with safeguards to arrive at decisions that are as rational and objective as possible.

Credibility Evaluation of Electromagnetic Simulation Results Based on Convolutional Neural Network

The core idea of the credibility evaluation method of electromagnetic simulation results is to replace the experts with electromagnetic computing professional background to evaluate the credibility of simulation results. The representative algorithm is the FSV method (Feature Selective validation, FSV) proposed by the IEEE Standards Association. However, the existing credi-bility assessment methods all use statistical indicators or signal processing methods to simulate the real thoughts of experts, and have not achieved true artificial intelligence. In this paper, a cred-ibility evaluation method of simulation results based on convolu-tional neural network is proposed, which aims to integrate the real ideas of experts (background knowledge of electromagnetic calcu-lation) into the evaluation, instead of just mechanical numerical calculation, and to avoid evaluation errors caused by nonprofes-sional.

Developing a platform-specific framework for web credibility assessment: A case of social Q&A sites

Social question-and-answer (Q&A) sites have the potential to serve as a useful source of online information based on their content-focused and collaborative nature. Although previous research has examined various attributes of high-quality information on social Q&A sites (e.g., best answers), relatively less attention has been paid to what affects users’ credibility assessments of information in the social Q&A context. The present study developed a social Q&A platform-specific framework for web credibility assessment, including 21 criteria under six types of web credibility, based on a literature analysis and case study of two online Q&A communities, Stack Exchange and Wikipedia Reference Desk. Using the selected sites’ policies and guidelines (n = 46) as the source of evidence, the case study revealed that content-related attributes (e.g., evidence-based, pertinence) were most frequently identified (12 of 21 criteria) as potential cues and heuristics for web credibility assessments of social Q&A sites, followed by author-related (five of 21; e.g., reputation) and design-related (four of 21; e.g., engaging design) factors. Design-related criteria were rarely included in previous models of web credibility on social Q&A or similar peer-knowledge production platforms. However, our findings showing that both Stack Exchange and Wikipedia Reference Desk have policies regarding all four design-related criteria in our framework—engaging design, moderation, design appropriateness, and ease of use—indicate the potential influences of design features on users’ web credibility assessment on social Q&A sites. Some differences emerged between the two cases, such as policies regarding the answerer's credentials or semantic accuracy that are present on Wikipedia Reference Desk but absent on Stack Exchange. Such differences in the sites’ policies reflect how they position themselves as social Q&A communities—Wikipedia, of which Wikipedia Reference Desk is a part, as an encyclopedia, and Stack Exchange as a community-based platform for learning, sharing knowledge, and building careers of users.

COVID-19 vaccination national radio advertising credibility assessment by rural consumers: The influence of indigenous medical knowledge systems and traditional beliefs

The rural consumer has been largely ignored in advertising research, yet they constitute more than 50% of the population in Africa. The study aimed to explore rural consumers’ assessment of COVID-19 vaccination radio advertising credibility with a peculiar focus on the influence of indigenous medical knowledge systems and traditional beliefs in Zimbabwe. The interpretive paradigm was adopted in the embedded single case study. The rural population which was purposively sampled consisted of 6Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and 12 interviews of rural consumers. Thematic approach was used to analyze the data. The results show that credibility of radio adverts on COVID-19 is dependent on the source of information, political perceptions, religious and personal experiences on COVID-19. Rural consumers also relied on traditional medicines to treat COVID-19. The rural consumers have strong belief in spirituality and witchcraft which had a bearing on the acceptance/non acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination radio adverts. The study provides theoretical insights and also practical contribution to COVID-19 vaccination managers, advertisers and health marketing practitioners to enhance the acceptance and trust of national radio ads, so as to increase rural consumers’ vaccination.