Seeking and Sharing Information About Haze in Singapore: The Planned Risk Information Seeking and Sharing Model

• In Event: HIGH-DENSITY: Assessing Risk in Water and Air

Abstract

This study extends existing theories of risk information seeking by incorporating information sharing, another important information behaviors in risk situations. Specifically, the study examines differential motivational factors (affective, psychological, and knowledge) between risk information seeking and sharing in the context of haze in Singapore. An online survey of 1,021 Singaporeans showed that information seeking intention was attitudinally driven, whereas information sharing intention was most associated with perceived control. Perceived knowledge of the self was a consistent predictor of both risk information seeking and sharing intentions, beyond information insufficiency or perceived knowledge of others. Information insufficiency of others promotes risk information sharing only when individuals consider themselves sufficiently efficacious at information sharing and have positive attitudes toward information sharing. This study refines prior understanding of information behaviors by addressing boundary conditions for the effect of information insufficiency on information seeking and sharing.

Authors

• Hye Kyung Kim, Nanyang Technological U

• Chih-Hui Lai, National Chiao Tung U