How Exposure to Counterattitudinal Messages From the Same Party Influences Online Information-Seeking and Attitude Change

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session III
  In Interactive Paper Session: Political Communication Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

This study investigates how exposure to counter-attitudinal messages from the same party influence further online information-seeking and attitude change. Using an adult sample, the study adopts an experimental design measuring actual information seeking behavior in time units through unobtrusive observation, instead of relying on self-reports. The results show that in terms of information seeking, neither attitude-party message consistency nor partisanship strength led to confirmation bias-seeking. In terms of attitude change, there was significant attitude change between pro-attitudinal and weak partisans when exposed to pro-attitudinal message, but no change when exposed to counter-attitudinal message. We conclude with some caveats and directions for future research.

Authors

• Sangwon Lee, University of Wisconsin-Madison

• Jihyun Esther Paik, U of Wisconsin-Madison