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The Formation of Credibility Impressions of Physicians on Facebook and WebMD: A Test of Three Theoretical Explanations

D'Angelo, Jonathan D.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1308324510

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Communication.
Computer-mediated communication (CMC) research has long been interested in how interpersonal impressions form online. This research argues that, given the advance of technology and the diversity in online environments, researchers must now consider the context in which social information appears in order to more fully understand the effects of social information on impression formation. This study found, in hypotheses based on correspondent inference theory (Jones & Davis, 1965) and the hyperpersonal model (Walther, 1996), that the context of a website impacts credibility impressions. An original 2 (valence of photograph: casual vs professional) x 2 (normative context: WebMD vs Facebook) experiment examining the impact of moving identical cues across contexts found normative expectations impact impression formation. In particular, this experiment assessed how observers judge a doctor’s credibility and task-attractiveness based on whether they saw a normative or non-normative picture for the context of the website in which they are presented. Findings indicate support for a non-normativity effect: cues that defied normative expectations were more influential. Based on these findings, it is concluded that a non-normativity effect, based on expectations of the type of information for a specific context, drives the other effects.
Brandon Van Der Heide, PhD (Advisor)
Kelly Garrett, PhD (Committee Member)
Jesse Fox, PhD (Committee Member)
Communication
CMC; Impression Formation; Physicians; Normativity.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • D'Angelo, J. D. (2011). The Formation of Credibility Impressions of Physicians on Facebook and WebMD: A Test of Three Theoretical Explanations [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1308324510

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • D'Angelo, Jonathan. The Formation of Credibility Impressions of Physicians on Facebook and WebMD: A Test of Three Theoretical Explanations. 2011. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1308324510.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • D'Angelo, Jonathan. "The Formation of Credibility Impressions of Physicians on Facebook and WebMD: A Test of Three Theoretical Explanations." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1308324510

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.