Perceived Credibility of YouTube Science News: The Role of Video, Source, and User Attributes

• In Event: 35.079 - Sheraton Roundtable Session Five - Grand Centre
  In Roundtable Session: 35.079-1 - Digital Media, Manipulation, and Critical Thinking

Abstract

Educating individuals in the ‘Post-Truth’ era how to better evaluate the credibility of online science news videos hinges upon an adequate understanding of how they do so in the first place. This experimental study (N=565) is the first to examine the role of video, source, and user attributes in this context. Findings show that perceived video quality, perceived source integrity and benevolence, and users’ prior experience with YouTube are positively associated with users’ credibility assessment of the information in the video. Interestingly, credibility assessment is negatively associated with video popularity and user age. The paper discusses these findings and emphasizes their capacity to facilitate educational interventions that empower youth and adults to better evaluate the credibility of online science videos.

Authors

• Amir Michalovich, University of British Columbia

• Arnon Hershkovitz, Tel Aviv University