Information seeking and information sharing during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Based on the risk information seeking and processing model, this study examines socio-psychological variables that influence the American public’s information seeking and information sharing at different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected through three surveys that spanned from February to April, 2020. Results indicate that people seek and share information mostly to fulfill social expectations regarding their own knowledge of the pandemic. Individuals who perceive information about the pandemic on social media as credible are more likely to share information. Those who view themselves as capable to gather information are more likely to seek information, but this perceived ability is related to information sharing only as the pandemic becomes more pertinent to Americans. Consistent with past research, people with higher risk perception report stronger affective response to the pandemic, which increases their information insufficiency. This need for information, however, is not consistently related to seeking and sharing.

KEYWORDS:

• Information seeking
• information sharing
• risk
• credibility
• covid-19

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by National Science Foundation award #2020597 to the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Ipsos employs a patented methodology based on address-based probability sampling. Participants were recruited from KnowledgPanel©, a large panel that is representative of the U.S. population. Participants received an e-mail invitation to complete the survey online. Households without Internet access are provided with the necessary devices.

2. Since the first two surveys were based on convenience sampling, there was no way to calculate response rate.

3. Across all three surveys, minorities reported higher information insufficiency. Age was positively related to insufficiency in survey 1 and survey 3. Education was positively related to information seeking in survey 2 and survey 3, and positively related to information sharing in all three surveys. Age was negatively related to information sharing in survey 1 and survey 2, minorities were more likely to share information in survey 1 and survey 3, whereas more conservative participants were more likely to share information in survey 1 and survey 2.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the NSF [2020597].

Notes on contributors

Janet Z. Yang

Janet Z. Yang is a Professor in the Department of Communication at the University at Buffalo. She conducts research on communication issues related to environmental, health, science, and risk topics.

Zhuling Liu

Zhuling Liu is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication at the University at Buffalo. She conducts research on the impact of risk perception, emotion, and social trust on communication behaviors.

Jody CS Wong

Jody CS Wong is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication at the University at Buffalo. She investigates risk perception and emotions related to science and risk topics.