Source Credibility Research Articles

Analyzing the Information-Seeking Behavior of Management Students: A Smartphone- Centric Study

This study explores how postgraduate management students seek and gather academic information in a world where smart devices like smartphones dominate learning. Since smartphones have become integral part in higher education, especially in business programs, the study looks at how these devices affect students’ research habits, platform choices, and overall learning effectiveness. A survey of 73 management students from Mumbai was conducted using structured questionnaire. The survey focused on how students use smartphones for learning, their preferred digital platforms, how they check information accuracy, and their perceived learning outcomes. The results show that students widely use smartphones for tasks such as completing assignments, preparing for tests, and engaging in online learning. Platforms like YouTube, ChatGPT, and Google Scholar were the most popular platforms, reflecting a shift toward interactive and AI-powered tools. While many students verify the authenticity of information, some do not, this increases the risk of misinformation. Common challenges included distractions, eye strain, and difficulties in verifying the credibility of sources. The study concludes that although smartphones provide flexibility and easy access to information, their effectiveness depends on how well students apply critical thinking and digital literacy. These findings emphasize the need for institutions to provide better support and targeted digital education to maximize the benefits of smartphone-assisted learning.

Trash Talk: How Malaysian Zero Waste Influencers Shape Sustainable Habits

In recent years, social media platforms have witnessed a surge in discussions centered around sustainability, leading to an increased interest in eco-conscious living among users. Malaysia, in particular, has seen a significant rise in the influence of "zero waste influencers," who actively promote and advocate for sustainable practices through engaging content and practical guidance, gaining significant followings and impacting eco-conscious decisions among their audiences. This study employs the Source Credibility Theory to investigate how expertise, trustworthiness, and attractiveness of zero waste influencers affect parasocial relationships with their followers. This study also examines the impact of parasocial relationships with zero waste influencers on followers' attitudes towards sustainable consumption and subsequently followers' intentions to engage in sustainable consumption behaviors. Results from a quantitative survey conducted in Malaysia revealed that expertise and trustworthiness emerged as significant predictors of parasocial relationships with zero waste influencers, while attractiveness did not show a significant impact. Additionally, the study found a positive correlation between parasocial relationships and attitudes toward sustainable consumption, which in turn positively influenced intentions to engage in sustainable consumption behaviors. Perceived environmental knowledge acted as a mediator in the relationship between parasocial relationships with zero waste influencers and followers' attitudes toward sustainable consumption. The theoretical implications of this research highlight the role of parasocial relationships in shaping attitudes and intentions toward sustainable consumption, providing empirical evidence of how zero waste influencers influence consumer behavior. Furthermore, the study suggests that trustworthiness and expertise are more influential than attractiveness in fostering parasocial relationships, indicating a shift in consumer values towards reliability and content quality in sustainability contexts

Trust evaluation mechanism for data collection in smart cities

Driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, smart cities are becoming more sophisticated. In smart cities, intelligent applications such as traffic optimization, environmental monitoring and emergency response develop intelligent decisions with AI models. The core of smart decision-making lies in the intelligent analysis and processing of real-time data collected by IoT devices, which supports the intelligent and precise operation of cities. However, the credibility of data sources directly affects the quality of decision-making and the effectiveness of AI models. Issues such as tampering, falsification, or failure of data sources not only lead to biased decisions but may also jeopardize the stability and security of urban systems. Therefore, conducting trust evaluations on data collection terminals in intelligent scenarios is crucial for ensuring the reliable operation of smart cities. This paper proposes a multidimensional trust evaluation method for data collection in intelligent applications of smart cities. Moreover, this method can effectively detect sophisticated attacks, such as data poisoning and insider threats. By incorporating static, dynamic, and energy trust assessments, and applying the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to generate an integrated trust value, this approach ensures data credibility from the source and provides reliable data support for smart decision-making.

Instagram Mega-Influencers’ Effect on Generation Z’s Intention to Purchase: A Technology Acceptance Model and Source Credibility Model Perspective

The growing use of Instagram and its influencers in marketing demonstrates their substantial influence on customer behavior intentions. Despite this, further research into the effects of Instagram mega-influencers on purchase intention is needed among Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) consumers. The main aim of the study was to assess the influence of attractiveness, expertise, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness on intention to purchase due to Instagram mega-influencers among Generation Z in South Africa. This study combined purposive and snowball non-probability sampling methods using a quantitative approach. An online questionnaire was used to assess the effect of Instagram mega-influencers on young consumers’ purchase intention, which resulted in 497 Generation Z respondents. Positive associations were found between attractiveness, expertise, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness on intention to purchase. Perceived ease of use was also found to mediate the positive effects of attractiveness and expertise on intention to purchase. This analysis provides businesses with practical information about the use of Instagram mega-influencers in digital marketing to connect with Generation Z consumers and improve profitability. The research contributes to the theoretical development of constructs in the technology acceptance and source credibility models and generation cohort theory.

THE IMPACT OF INFLUENCER MARKETING ON FEMALE CONSUMERS' ONLINE IMPULSE BUYING INTENTIONS

Digital media makes it possible to access a wide range of information by providing easy access to various information sources. However, it has become quite difficult to measure the reliability of digital media sources and the quality of the information they provide. In particular, the issues of source reliability and information quality are important in terms of ensuring consumer trust and influencing purchasing decisions. Brands cooperate with influencers with high influence and number of followers on social media to influence consumers' purchasing decisions. In this study, the effect of phenomenon marketing on the online instant purchase intention of female consumers is examined. The research was conducted on 381 female consumers who use social media platforms, follow the phenomena promoting cosmetic products and purchase products online. The data obtained were analysed with SPSS 20.0 statistical package programme. It was concluded that the source credibility of the phenomenon and brand-phenomenon compatibility have effects on the attitude towards phenomenon advertisements; and the attitude towards phenomenon advertisements has a positive effect on online instant purchase intention.

Oral Health Promotion Interventions in Residential Aged Care Facilities - A Systematic Review of Behaviour Change Techniques Used in Interventions.

The oral health status of older people living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) is found to be very poor. Many oral health promotion interventions have been tested in RACF settings around the world with varying degrees of success. The aim of this systematic review is to analyse the health promotion strategies used in oral health promotion interventions in RACF settings and map the behaviour change techniques (BCTs) used in interventions to the Behaviour Change Techniques Taxonomy Version 1 (BCTTV1). This will help us identify the BCTs that are used and how effective they are in improving oral health outcomes for residents and the knowledge, attitudes and skills of caregivers in providing mouth care assistance to residents of RACFs. A database search was conducted in MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR), EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Web of Sciences databases to screen for articles relevant to the topic of the review; after full-text review a total of 31 articles comprising both randomised controlled trials and non-randomised intervention studies were included in this review. Risks of bias in randomised studies were assessed using the ROB2 tool and ROBINS-I was used to evaluate non-randomised studies. The description of intervention content in each study was coded for the presence of BCTs by two independent review authors trained in coding BCTs according to BCTTv1. The most commonly used BCTs were 'demonstration of behaviour', 'instruction on how to perform behaviour' and 'credible source'. These BCTs were effective in improving oral health outcomes and knowledge of caregivers on short-term follow-up. A higher number of BCTs were coded in studies that showed significant improvement in oral health outcomes of residents on long-term follow-up with rarely used BCTs related to 'monitoring and feedback' being coded in majority of studies that showed consistent improvement in oral health outcomes of residents. This review identified the most commonly used BCTs used in health promotion interventions to improve oral health among older people in RACFs and found that majority of interventions were targeted towards 'knowledge transfer' and were inconsistent in improving oral health outcomes for residents over long-term. Well conducted studies with use of theoretical behaviour change frameworks to develop oral health promotion interventions are needed as majority of strategies used currently do not demonstrate consistent effectiveness in improving oral health outcomes for residents of RACFs.

Approaches to the Perceptions of Kazakhstani Citizens on the Effects of Fake News on Vaccine Hesitancy

Vaccine hesitancy remains a major public health challenge, particularly in the context of widespread misinformation and declining institutional trust. This study investigates the effects of fake news, trust in official sources, prior vaccination behavior, and demographic factors on COVID-19 vaccination uptake in Kazakhstan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 262 respondents, and the data were analyzed using logistic regression with L2 regularization. Key findings indicate that individuals who received other vaccines in the past five years were nearly four times more likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Trust in government sources was also a significant positive predictor, while belief in fake news reduced vaccination likelihood by approximately 10%. Demographic variables such as age, gender, and education played additional roles, with men and less-educated individuals showing higher hesitancy. The study highlights the critical importance of behavioral consistency, institutional credibility, and information source reliability in shaping vaccination decisions. These results contribute to the broader literature on public health communication and vaccine acceptance, offering insights relevant to post-Soviet and digitally connected societies. Policy implications include strengthening trust-based communication, promoting routine immunization, and countering misinformation through media literacy and targeted outreach. The findings are vital for designing evidence-based strategies to improve vaccine uptake during current and future health crises.

Decoding the dynamics of endorsements: how endorser type and product involvement shape advertising effectiveness

ABSTRACT This study explores the comparative impact of influencers vs experts on consumer attitude, perceived value, and purchase intentions for high- and low-involvement products in skincare and consumer electronics sectors. Drawing on ELM and source credibility theory, two studies were conducted: the first focusing on skincare, the second on consumer electronics. Results demonstrate that expert endorsements, such as those by dermatologists, are more effective for high-involvement products, for creating a positive attitude among consumers towards endorsements. Conversely, influencers perform better for low-involvement skincare products. In the electronics sector, the type of endorser (influencer vs. expert) did not significantly affect attitudes or purchase intentions, regardless of product involvement. However, factors like perceived value and consumer-specific characteristics, such as innovativeness and discomfort, play moderating roles. The findings of this endeavour emphasize the importance of aligning endorsement strategies on the social media with product type and consumer expectations. For the high-involvement products, expert endorsements paired maximize impact, while low-involvement products benefit from the influencers’ wide appeal. These insights offer actionable implications for marketers in tailoring of campaigns to optimize consumer engagement and drive purchase intentions.

Exploring the role ofculture and cognitive heuristics in assessing the credibility of cancer (mis)information on Facebook among U.S. Latinos/as

ABSTRACT As health misinformation continues to permeate social media, it is of utmost importance to understand how credibility assessments are made among those most vulnerable to health inequities. Dual-processing models suggest that online credibility assessments are largely made through the use of cognitive heuristics. However, little is known about the role cultural identity plays in these assessments, particularly in light of health (mis)information exposure among communities of color. This mixed-methods study explores the role of culture and cognitive heuristics in how a sample of Latinos/as assessed the credibility of cancer prevention and screening information on Facebook, and the quality of cancer information they were exposed to on their accounts. Participants (N = 20) logged onto their Facebook account, entered the search term “cancer,” and walked-through 12 months of cancer-related posts that appeared on their News Feed. When cancer screening and prevention information engagement was recalled, participants were asked if/how they assessed information credibility. Computer screen and audio were recorded. Interviews were analyzed thematically, and the content and scientific credibility of claims in posts were assessed. Despite the majority of posts being coded as having low/very low scientific credibility, credibility assessments were not always accurate. Most participants only verified the accuracy of content when they deemed it important/relevant, instead relying on cognitive heuristics interpreted through a cultural lens to assess (mis)information. Findings highlight the instrumental role of culture in the heuristic interpretation of source and content credibility among Latinos/as, emphasizing the importance of explicitly including culture in theoretical models that explore how individuals assess credibility on social media.

The price of progress: Assessing the financial costs of HIV/AIDS management in East Africa.

The epidemic of HIV/AIDS, also known as human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), continues to be a major global public health concern with significant economic ramifications. East Africa is one of the severely hit regions. The East African economy suffers hugely due to the cost emanating from management of HIV infection. This review offers a thorough analysis of the financial burden of HIV/AIDS treatment, including direct medical costs, infrastructure costs for healthcare, social and indirect costs, and long-term sustainability difficulties. By examining epidemiological statistics, trends in healthcare spending, and socioeconomic factors, we clarify the complex financial environment surrounding HIV/AIDS. The paper also looks at ways to deal with these issues, highlighting the value of cooperation between governments, medical professionals, civil society organizations, and the global community. A thorough literature search that involved a wide range of credible sources, including academic databases (like PubMed, Google scholar, Science Direct, JSTOR), research repositories, government reports, and publications from nongovernmental organizations. It is possible to lessen the economic cost of HIV/AIDS and enhance results for impacted people and communities by making investments in prevention, treatment, and support services while addressing underlying structural concerns.

Effectiveness and Significance of Nepal Tourism Years

This study explores the effectiveness of Nepal's tourism campaigns, including Visit Nepal 1998, Nepal Tourism Year 2011, and the postponed Visit Nepal 2020, aiming to boost tourist arrivals, economic growth, and regional development. Employing a cross-sectional study approach and analyzing secondary data from the Nepal Tourism Board and other credible sources, the study evaluates key metrics such as tourist arrivals, foreign exchange earnings, and infrastructural improvements. Findings indicate that while campaigns have spurred growth in central regions, rural areas remain underserved. The study highlights the need for inclusive tourism policies that address regional disparities, thereby supporting a more equitable distribution of tourism benefits across Nepal. Limitations include a reliance on existing data, which may affect comprehensiveness. These insights hold value for policymakers and tourism authorities as they seek to create sustainable and balanced tourism development strategies.

Comparative analysis of clinical relevance and accuracy in AI-assisted patient consultations on ankle and clavicle fracture surgeries.

It is becoming increasingly important to evaluate the effectiveness of large language models (LLMs) and query-assisted platforms like Google and ChatGPT in providing clinically relevant and accurate information to patient-initiated inquiries. Limited studies have characterized the performance of these platforms on semi-elective orthopedic trauma surgeries. This study evaluates the function of both interactive online models on frequently queried patient searches on ankle and clavicle fracture operations. An inquiry set consisting of ten prevalent patient questions for each fracture type was extracted using Google and ChatGPT. Responses, alongside their source attributions, were curated for clinical relevance and accuracy. This assessment was conducted in a double-blind fashion. Grading was completed by two researchers with academic and clinical experience in orthopedic trauma (D.E.P, H.F.B), with oversight and validation provided by a board-certified orthopedic trauma surgeon (A.N.M). Descriptive and comparative statistics were used to understand the dataset. ChatGPT performed better than Google in terms of clinical relevance (p = 0.001) and accuracy (p = 0.004) in ankle fracture patient queries. Clavicle fracture queries showed a significant difference favoring ChatGPT for accuracy (p = 0.04), though relevance did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.06). When answer ground-truth was analyzed, GPT outperformed Google by providing more academic sources (p < 0.05). Large Language Models outperformed traditionally used online platforms in delivering clinically precise and contextually relevant information on semi-elective, common orthopedic trauma surgeries. The ability of LLMs to synthesize responses from credible medical sources significantly diminishes the variability and potential inaccuracies inherent in conventional web searches. These insights strongly suggest that LLMs could play a pivotal role in enhancing patient engagement and comprehension in trauma care, meriting further exploration of their integration within clinical frameworks. Therapeutic Level III.

Belief updating in the face of misinformation: The role of source reliability.

This paper investigates the process of belief updating in the presence of contradictory and potentially misleading information, focusing on the impact of source reliability. Across four experiments, we examined how individuals revise their beliefs when confronted with retracted information and varying source credibility. Experiment 1 revealed that participants discounted retracted information and reverted to their prior beliefs, in contrast to the Continued Influence Effect commonly reported in the literature. Experiment 2 demonstrated that source reliability significantly influences belief updating: reliable sources led participants to discount initial allegations more effectively than unreliable sources. Experiments 3 and 4 examined how people update their beliefs given opposing sources of differing reliability; we found that participants appropriately incorporated source reliability and penalised sources that were corrected, regardless of the corrector's reliability. Additionally, in contrast to previous research, both trustworthiness and expertise contributed to judgments of source reliability. Our results resolve some of the mixed findings in previous research, and highlight that individuals' belief updating are rationally sensitive to differences in source reliability. Our findings have broad implications for correcting misinformation in political, medical, and other applied contexts, and further underscore the need to ground misinformation correction strategies in robust psychological research.

INFORMATION INTEGRITY AND ELECTORAL CHOICES

This study explores the relationship between news truthfulness, news credibility, source credibility, political brand trust, political brand image, and voting intention. The objective of this study is to understand how those factors collectively influence voters' perception and behavior. Using a quantitative approach, the data was collected through online surveys of 250 eligible voters in Indonesia, analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results indicate that news truthfulness significantly increases both political brand trust and image. Meanwhile, source credibility positively influences trust, but does not notably affect brand image. Interestingly, news credibility increases political brand image without directly affecting trust. Furthermore, political brand image plays an important role in shaping voting intention, whereas political brand trust does not show a direct effect. By integrating those dimensions of political branding into one model, this study fills the gap in existing research and provides insights into the dynamics of voter behavior. This study suggests that political entities prioritize maintaining news truthfulness and the improvement of source credibility to build trust and create a positive brand image. Additionally political campaigns should adapt their communication strategies so that it is in line with the voter’s expectation in this complex media landscape for effective engagement and influence on electoral outcomes.

“Said” or “told the reporter”? The effects of quote-attribution style on content and source perceptions

Through two online experiments (N 1 = 139, N 2 = 250), this study tests the effects of attribution style in news articles. Student participants rated articles with “told the reporter” or the traditional “said” as higher in message and source credibility than articles with “told me,” but non-student participants did not perceive differences. Open-ended responses suggested that students found first-person attribution to be unprofessional while the other participants thought their preferences would vary based on context.

What Drives Young Adults to Engage in Cloud Fitness on Short Video Platforms? Source Credibility, Technology Affordance, and the Theory of Planned Behavior Perspectives

What Drives Young Adults to Engage in Cloud Fitness on Short Video Platforms? Source Credibility, Technology Affordance, and the Theory of Planned Behavior Perspectives

Phenomenological Study: Self-Efficacy and Understanding of Information Literacy in Elementary School Moving Teachers in Candimulyo, Magelang

This study aims to explore the role of the driving teacher in building self-efficacy and understanding of information literacy in elementary schools. Using a qualitative approach with a phenomenological perspective, this study focuses on the experiences and views of Driving force Teachers in Candimulyo District, Magelang Regency. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and documentation involving Driving force Teachers from several elementary schools. The results showed that Driving force Teachers improved students' creativity through various learning methods, including project-based approaches and challenging games. In addition, they utilized credible sources of information such as official government websites and educational applications to improve understanding of information literacy. Driving force Teachers also played an active role in establishing communication with parents to support student achievement through communication forums and WhatsApp groups. This study concluded that driving teacher self-efficacy and information literacy contributed to improving the quality of learning in elementary schools. By utilizing innovative learning strategies and active involvement in the education community, Driving force Teachers were able to create a more effective learning environment and support optimal student development. Keywords: self-efficacy, information literacy, Driving force Teachers, student creativity, elementary education.

Quality Assessment of Chinese TikTok as a Source of Information About Esophageal Cancer.

Esophageal cancer is a prevalent cancer worldwide, with incidence rates rising significantly in recent years, particularly in high-risk regions where case numbers continue to escalate. As one of the most visited social media platforms globally, TikTok has emerged as a key source for health information. This study aims to evaluate Chinese TikTok videos on esophageal cancer, focusing on content integrity, informational quality, source credibility, usefulness, and reliability.: We assessed 246 esophageal cancer-related videos using the Content Integrity Score based on Goobie's coding scheme for content evaluation and the DISCERN instrument for assessing information reliability and treatment guidance. Videos were categorized by duration, source, publication year, and user engagement metrics (likes, comments, favorites, shares). Statistical analysis was conducted using Shapiro-Wilk, Kruskal-Wallis and post hoc Bonferroni tests. Additionally, Spearman's correlation analysis was applied to explore relationships between key quantitative variables. Of the videos analyzed, 212(86.2%) were uploaded by doctors, and 168(68.3%) lacked content related to risk factors. and 217(88.2%) had a quality score rated as poor or below. User engagement metrics, including likes, comments, saves, and shares, exhibited strong intercorrelations. However, only shares showed a weak correlation with DISCERN scores (R = 0.134, p = 0.036). Additionally, DISCERN scores were positively correlated with video duration (R = 0.352, p < 0.001). Chinese TikTok videos on esophageal cancer generally offer low-quality information that lacks accuracy and is insufficient for guiding patients in making informed health decisions. Given the low quality and reliability of such content, TikTok is not a suitable source for patient education.

Adolescent Experiences With Navigating Health Information on Social Media and Beyond: Using Qualitative Data to Inform a Model.

Adolescent Experiences With Navigating Health Information on Social Media and Beyond: Using Qualitative Data to Inform a Model.

Curbing Dissemination of Fake News: Role of Information Verification Cost, Trust in Information, Truth-Seeking, and Fake News Awareness on Information Verification Behavior

Social media platforms have revolutionized the dissemination of information, enabling real-time citizen-driven journalism. However, this unprecedented accessibility has also facilitated the proliferation of fake news, often perpetuated by users who share information without verification. This study investigates the information verification behaviors of social media users in the context of fake news. Drawing upon the Elaboration Likelihood Model, we propose a research model to explore individuals' verification behaviors and test 11 hypotheses using a survey of active social media users. Results confirm all proposed hypotheses, revealing that online news quality, news source credibility, trust in social media information, fake news awareness, perceived cost of verification, and truth-seeking motive significantly influence information verification behaviors. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed in detail in light of these findings.