冲突性健康信息对用户健康信息搜寻的影响:基于不确定性视角的探究

The Impact of Conflicting Health Information in Consumers’Health Information Seeking:An Investigation of Uncertainty

[目的/意义]近年来,由于互联网上针对各类健康话题的信息体量激增、信息质量参差不齐等,用户在健康信息搜寻过程中遭遇冲突性健康信息已成为一种常见的体验,然而冲突性健康信息对用户的相关影响却鲜有研究。本文从经典信息搜寻理论出发,梳理信息搜寻与不确定性的关系,并针对冲突性健康信息提出研究问题。[方法/过程]以实验方法为手段构建实验组与控制组,以单因素方差分析检验冲突性健康信息对用户的知识概念状态、困惑感、健康信念的影响。[结果/结论]实验结果表明,在健康信息搜寻过程中遭遇冲突性健康信息会使用户针对某一健康话题的知识概念状态变得模糊,困惑感上升,健康信念下降,因此用户所面临的不确定性上升。在实验结果基础上,着重讨论相关理论与实践启示。

[Purpose/significance]Recently,health information has become prevalent on the Internet.The extensive information volume and heterogeneity in information quality increased the probability of encountering conflicting information in users’health information seeking.However,it has been insufficiently explored how conflicting health information may impact users.This study departs from the relationship between information seeking and uncertainty reduction,as indicated by many classic information behavior theories.We raised a research question of whether the hypothesized relationship still stands in conflicting health information contexts.[Method/process]By employing the experimental approach and one-way analysis of variance(ANOVA),we examine the effects of conflicting health information on individuals regarding knowledge states,confusion,and health beliefs.[Result/conclusion]The results suggested that conflicting health information blurred knowledge states,increased confusion,and decreased health belief.Thus,we inferred that uncertainty increased when they encountered conflicting health information.Based on the results,several theoretical and practical implications were discussed.