The Role of Credibility Assessment in Exposure to Political Information on the Internet

• In Event: Political Information Online: Its Content and Consequences

Abstract

The Internet allows individuals to access an unprecedented amount of news information in human history. However, as several scholars have noted, this abundance of information may encourage selective exposure to attitude-consistent information. Despite this reality, the basic model of selective exposure has seen comparatively little elaboration over the years. This study investigates the effects of credibility assessment on selective exposure behaviors. Using a non-college adult sample, this study shows that selective exposure behavior is positively related to credibility assessments. Implications of the findings are discussed and future directions for research are proposed.

Authors

• Ryan Medders, California Lutheran University

• Miriam Metzger, U of California - Santa Barbara