Pub Date : 2024-08-03DOI: 10.1177/00936502241263482
Cheng Chen, Mengqi Liao, Joseph B. Walther, S. Shyam Sundar
How do we know when someone knows us? Does it matter whether the knower is a human or a machine? Following the theory of interpersonal knowledge, a between-subjects experiment investigated whether a doctor’s incorporation of individualized knowledge about a patient’s social or medical history enhances doctor-patient relationships in online conversations. Patients in this study conversed with either a human doctor, an AI doctor, or an AI-assisted human doctor. Following previous research, additional factors such as perceptions of effort, relational closeness, privacy intrusiveness, and the provision of privacy control were assessed. Results showed that an AI doctor enhanced patient satisfaction when it employed social individuation messages, which triggered perceptions of increased effort, but only when patients could activate privacy control. Perception of relational closeness with a human doctor and an AI-assisted human doctor did not seem to require social individuation and privacy control. The study concludes with implications for the theory of interpersonal knowledge and AI-mediated communication research, as well as practical implications for improving chatbot medical systems.
{"title":"When an AI Doctor Gets Personal: The Effects of Social and Medical Individuation in Encounters With Human and AI Doctors","authors":"Cheng Chen, Mengqi Liao, Joseph B. Walther, S. Shyam Sundar","doi":"10.1177/00936502241263482","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00936502241263482","url":null,"abstract":"How do we know when someone knows us? Does it matter whether the knower is a human or a machine? Following the theory of interpersonal knowledge, a between-subjects experiment investigated whether a doctor’s incorporation of individualized knowledge about a patient’s social or medical history enhances doctor-patient relationships in online conversations. Patients in this study conversed with either a human doctor, an AI doctor, or an AI-assisted human doctor. Following previous research, additional factors such as perceptions of effort, relational closeness, privacy intrusiveness, and the provision of privacy control were assessed. Results showed that an AI doctor enhanced patient satisfaction when it employed social individuation messages, which triggered perceptions of increased effort, but only when patients could activate privacy control. Perception of relational closeness with a human doctor and an AI-assisted human doctor did not seem to require social individuation and privacy control. The study concludes with implications for the theory of interpersonal knowledge and AI-mediated communication research, as well as practical implications for improving chatbot medical systems.","PeriodicalId":48323,"journal":{"name":"Communication Research","volume":"411 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141891690","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-30DOI: 10.1177/00936502241262056
Wen Shi, Jinhui Li
While recommendation algorithms have significantly empowered human communication process, there is an emerging scholarly and societal concern regarding the potential discrimination inherent in algorithmic decision-making. The present study employs a novel agent-based testing approach to conduct an automated audit of the Douyin algorithm’s recommendations for health-related videos, aiming to investigate its relationship with information inequalities between individuals who are socioeconomically advantaged and disadvantaged. Our findings imply the possible existence of a new digital divide, wherein the algorithm tends to recommend a smaller proportion of authenticated health-related videos on cheap phone models, representing users in low socioeconomic group. Furthermore, this divide was mitigated when both groups demonstrated the same watching strategy for authenticated information. This study implies that recommendation algorithms actively perpetuate and exacerbate discriminatory social structures in reality. We also advocate for increased attention and education among the low socioeconomic group to enhance their health information literacy and understanding of algorithmic mechanisms.
{"title":"New Digital Divide Shaped by Algorithm? Evidence from Agent-Based Testing on Douyin’s Health-Related Video Recommendation","authors":"Wen Shi, Jinhui Li","doi":"10.1177/00936502241262056","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00936502241262056","url":null,"abstract":"While recommendation algorithms have significantly empowered human communication process, there is an emerging scholarly and societal concern regarding the potential discrimination inherent in algorithmic decision-making. The present study employs a novel agent-based testing approach to conduct an automated audit of the Douyin algorithm’s recommendations for health-related videos, aiming to investigate its relationship with information inequalities between individuals who are socioeconomically advantaged and disadvantaged. Our findings imply the possible existence of a new digital divide, wherein the algorithm tends to recommend a smaller proportion of authenticated health-related videos on cheap phone models, representing users in low socioeconomic group. Furthermore, this divide was mitigated when both groups demonstrated the same watching strategy for authenticated information. This study implies that recommendation algorithms actively perpetuate and exacerbate discriminatory social structures in reality. We also advocate for increased attention and education among the low socioeconomic group to enhance their health information literacy and understanding of algorithmic mechanisms.","PeriodicalId":48323,"journal":{"name":"Communication Research","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141857948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-30DOI: 10.1177/00936502241263941
Yoo Ji Suh, Hyun Suk Kim
This study examined the psychological mechanisms underlying the persuasive effects of moral reframing—matching message content to recipients’ core moral foundations—by focusing on processing fluency, message processing depth, and self-affirmation as mediators. An online experiment conducted in South Korea demonstrated that, across two policy issues, moral reframing promoted processing fluency and self-affirmation, thereby enhancing the perceived persuasiveness of policy advocacy messages. Furthermore, self-affirmation increased support for policies advocated by the messages. However, the depth of message processing did not differ between participants who read messages aligned with their moral foundations and those exposed to mismatched messages. In sum, the results suggest that moral reframing enhances persuasion by facilitating reflection on positive self-aspects and intuitive processing, rather than by encouraging deeper processing of the messages.
{"title":"How Moral Reframing Enhances Political Persuasion: The Role of Processing Fluency and Self-Affirmation","authors":"Yoo Ji Suh, Hyun Suk Kim","doi":"10.1177/00936502241263941","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00936502241263941","url":null,"abstract":"This study examined the psychological mechanisms underlying the persuasive effects of moral reframing—matching message content to recipients’ core moral foundations—by focusing on processing fluency, message processing depth, and self-affirmation as mediators. An online experiment conducted in South Korea demonstrated that, across two policy issues, moral reframing promoted processing fluency and self-affirmation, thereby enhancing the perceived persuasiveness of policy advocacy messages. Furthermore, self-affirmation increased support for policies advocated by the messages. However, the depth of message processing did not differ between participants who read messages aligned with their moral foundations and those exposed to mismatched messages. In sum, the results suggest that moral reframing enhances persuasion by facilitating reflection on positive self-aspects and intuitive processing, rather than by encouraging deeper processing of the messages.","PeriodicalId":48323,"journal":{"name":"Communication Research","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141857932","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-30DOI: 10.1177/00936502241262377
Randy Stein, Caroline E. Meyersohn
Do people trust journalists who provide fact-checks? Building upon research on negativity bias, two studies support the hypothesis that people generally trust journalists when they confirm claims as true, but are relatively distrusting of journalists when they correct false claims. In Study 1, participants read a real fact-check that corrected or confirmed a claim about politics or economics. In Study 2, participants read a real report that corrected or confirmed a marketing claim for one of several products. Participants in both studies had higher levels of distrust for journalists providing corrections, perceiving them as more likely to be lying and possessing ulterior motives. This effect held even among corrections consistent with respondents’ prior beliefs (i.e., for claims that participants thought might be false). The results represent a novel reason why people distrust journalists and resist belief correction. We discuss implications for transparency in journalism, and for how journalists frame fact-checks.
{"title":"Whose Pants Are on Fire? Journalists Correcting False Claims are Distrusted More Than Journalists Confirming Claims","authors":"Randy Stein, Caroline E. Meyersohn","doi":"10.1177/00936502241262377","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00936502241262377","url":null,"abstract":"Do people trust journalists who provide fact-checks? Building upon research on negativity bias, two studies support the hypothesis that people generally trust journalists when they confirm claims as true, but are relatively distrusting of journalists when they correct false claims. In Study 1, participants read a real fact-check that corrected or confirmed a claim about politics or economics. In Study 2, participants read a real report that corrected or confirmed a marketing claim for one of several products. Participants in both studies had higher levels of distrust for journalists providing corrections, perceiving them as more likely to be lying and possessing ulterior motives. This effect held even among corrections consistent with respondents’ prior beliefs (i.e., for claims that participants thought might be false). The results represent a novel reason why people distrust journalists and resist belief correction. We discuss implications for transparency in journalism, and for how journalists frame fact-checks.","PeriodicalId":48323,"journal":{"name":"Communication Research","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141857930","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-26DOI: 10.1177/00936502241265537
Roselia Mendez Murillo, Jennifer A. Kam
Latina/o/x/e families who experience migration-related separation face the heart-wrenching decision to live apart from each other, often to obtain better life opportunities for the entire family. In these situations, children live in a country separate from one or more parents, while a primary caregiver (e.g., the other parent, a grandmother, an aunt) looks after the children. Utilizing semi-structured interview data with 20 family triads (i.e., separated parent, separated child, primary caregiver) and drawing from the long-distance relational maintenance model (LDRMM), this study explores how primary caregivers help or impede separated parents and children’s relational maintenance, while living apart in two different countries. Prospectively, caregivers were usually tasked with the responsibility of informing the child and helping them understand the upcoming family separation. Introspectively, most primary caregivers facilitated relational maintenance by directly connecting the child with the parent, providing the resources for the two parties to communicate (e.g., cellphone, WIFI), and emphasizing the benefits of the separation. Retrospectively, primary caregivers helped the children understand the separated parents’ return; however, this often came at the expense of the primary caregiver feeling forgotten or overlooked by the child.
{"title":"Relational Maintenance for Separated Latina/o/x/e Immigrant Parents and Their Children: A Focus on Primary Caregivers as Communication Gatekeepers","authors":"Roselia Mendez Murillo, Jennifer A. Kam","doi":"10.1177/00936502241265537","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00936502241265537","url":null,"abstract":"Latina/o/x/e families who experience migration-related separation face the heart-wrenching decision to live apart from each other, often to obtain better life opportunities for the entire family. In these situations, children live in a country separate from one or more parents, while a primary caregiver (e.g., the other parent, a grandmother, an aunt) looks after the children. Utilizing semi-structured interview data with 20 family triads (i.e., separated parent, separated child, primary caregiver) and drawing from the long-distance relational maintenance model (LDRMM), this study explores how primary caregivers help or impede separated parents and children’s relational maintenance, while living apart in two different countries. Prospectively, caregivers were usually tasked with the responsibility of informing the child and helping them understand the upcoming family separation. Introspectively, most primary caregivers facilitated relational maintenance by directly connecting the child with the parent, providing the resources for the two parties to communicate (e.g., cellphone, WIFI), and emphasizing the benefits of the separation. Retrospectively, primary caregivers helped the children understand the separated parents’ return; however, this often came at the expense of the primary caregiver feeling forgotten or overlooked by the child.","PeriodicalId":48323,"journal":{"name":"Communication Research","volume":"66 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141768477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-24DOI: 10.1177/00936502241260202
Ron Tamborini, Joshua Baldwin, Sara M. Grady, Melinda Aley, Henry Goble, Matthew Olah, Sujay Prabhu
Four studies examine the appeal of protagonists who are sometimes immoral in real-world (Studies 1 & 2) and fictional (Studies 3 & 4) settings. In both, character appeal is influenced by the combination of moral/immoral behaviors a protagonist performs and their moral/immoral behavior relative to another person’s (i.e., their moral superiority/inferiority). Additionally, Study 2 examines the effect of character behavior (moral/immoral vs. highly self-beneficial) on appeal, finding that if two protagonists are equally immoral, one who elsewise behaves morally at times is more appealing than one who is elsewise self-beneficial. Studies 3 and 4 replicate these findings using a fictional drama and fantasy premise instead of a real-world setting. Findings suggest the effect of characters’ immoral behavior on appeal varies based on the moral behavior of comparison characters regardless of the setting’s fictionality. Discussion considers whether moral superiority alters the likelihood that audiences will emulate an imperfect hero’s immoral actions.
{"title":"The Impact of Comparative Moral Superiority on Protagonist Appeal","authors":"Ron Tamborini, Joshua Baldwin, Sara M. Grady, Melinda Aley, Henry Goble, Matthew Olah, Sujay Prabhu","doi":"10.1177/00936502241260202","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00936502241260202","url":null,"abstract":"Four studies examine the appeal of protagonists who are sometimes immoral in real-world (Studies 1 & 2) and fictional (Studies 3 & 4) settings. In both, character appeal is influenced by the combination of moral/immoral behaviors a protagonist performs and their moral/immoral behavior relative to another person’s (i.e., their moral superiority/inferiority). Additionally, Study 2 examines the effect of character behavior (moral/immoral vs. highly self-beneficial) on appeal, finding that if two protagonists are equally immoral, one who elsewise behaves morally at times is more appealing than one who is elsewise self-beneficial. Studies 3 and 4 replicate these findings using a fictional drama and fantasy premise instead of a real-world setting. Findings suggest the effect of characters’ immoral behavior on appeal varies based on the moral behavior of comparison characters regardless of the setting’s fictionality. Discussion considers whether moral superiority alters the likelihood that audiences will emulate an imperfect hero’s immoral actions.","PeriodicalId":48323,"journal":{"name":"Communication Research","volume":"103 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141755410","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-23DOI: 10.1177/00936502241262664
Anna Schnauber-Stockmann, Michael Scharkow, Veronika Karnowski, Teresa K. Naab, Daniela Schlütz, Paul Pressmann
Media use varies between persons (person-specific variation) and within persons (situation-specific variation, that is, the same individual uses media differently across situations). Understanding the relative importance of these two levels of variation in media use is fundamental to theory building as it helps determine whether theories of media use should focus on person- or situation-specific factors. To examine the relative importance of person- versus situation-specific variation in media use, we conducted a meta-analysis of self-reported data from studies using repeated in situ measurement designs (28 studies with 150 media use measures). The results showed that about two-thirds of the variance in media use was situation-specific. This suggests that the situation level is of high relevance for understanding and measuring media use. Theoretically, situation-specific factors are key in explaining whether, how long, and how often individuals use media. Methodologically, our results call for in situ designs repeatedly measuring media use across situations.
{"title":"Distinguishing Person-Specific from Situation-Specific Variation in Media Use: A Meta-Analysis","authors":"Anna Schnauber-Stockmann, Michael Scharkow, Veronika Karnowski, Teresa K. Naab, Daniela Schlütz, Paul Pressmann","doi":"10.1177/00936502241262664","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00936502241262664","url":null,"abstract":"Media use varies between persons (person-specific variation) and within persons (situation-specific variation, that is, the same individual uses media differently across situations). Understanding the relative importance of these two levels of variation in media use is fundamental to theory building as it helps determine whether theories of media use should focus on person- or situation-specific factors. To examine the relative importance of person- versus situation-specific variation in media use, we conducted a meta-analysis of self-reported data from studies using repeated in situ measurement designs (28 studies with 150 media use measures). The results showed that about two-thirds of the variance in media use was situation-specific. This suggests that the situation level is of high relevance for understanding and measuring media use. Theoretically, situation-specific factors are key in explaining whether, how long, and how often individuals use media. Methodologically, our results call for in situ designs repeatedly measuring media use across situations.","PeriodicalId":48323,"journal":{"name":"Communication Research","volume":"149 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141755400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-25DOI: 10.1177/00936502241259919
Nick Wuestenenk, Frank van Tubergen, Tobias H. Stark, Naomi Ellemers
There has been much debate about how cultural differences between ethnic groups may affect the cohesion of multicultural societies. Still, we know little about the extent to which cultural differences between groups also materialize into behavioral differences, especially in online settings. To study this, we conducted an experiment in which second-generation Moroccan and Turkish Dutch participants first indicated their personal opinion on sexual liberalism, and then participated in discussions on this topic on an online platform. On the discussion platform, participants were randomly assigned to either a progressive, conservative or mixed online discussion. Overall, we found that the convergence between personal opinions and online expressions was stronger for progressive than for conservative participants. Additionally, conservatives (but not progressives) were less likely to express their personal opinions, and more likely to deviate from their personal opinions, when they were exposed to an incongruent versus congruent online environment.
{"title":"How Do Personal Opinions Relate to Online Expressions? An Experimental Study Among Muslim Minority Groups in The Netherlands","authors":"Nick Wuestenenk, Frank van Tubergen, Tobias H. Stark, Naomi Ellemers","doi":"10.1177/00936502241259919","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00936502241259919","url":null,"abstract":"There has been much debate about how cultural differences between ethnic groups may affect the cohesion of multicultural societies. Still, we know little about the extent to which cultural differences between groups also materialize into behavioral differences, especially in online settings. To study this, we conducted an experiment in which second-generation Moroccan and Turkish Dutch participants first indicated their personal opinion on sexual liberalism, and then participated in discussions on this topic on an online platform. On the discussion platform, participants were randomly assigned to either a progressive, conservative or mixed online discussion. Overall, we found that the convergence between personal opinions and online expressions was stronger for progressive than for conservative participants. Additionally, conservatives (but not progressives) were less likely to express their personal opinions, and more likely to deviate from their personal opinions, when they were exposed to an incongruent versus congruent online environment.","PeriodicalId":48323,"journal":{"name":"Communication Research","volume":"118 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2024-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141452999","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-05-17DOI: 10.1177/00936502241234011
Cen April Yue, Sifan Xu, Weiting Tao, Lei Vincent Huang
Integrating theories from relationship management, organizational socialization, and leadership communication, the current study examines how an essential component of internal communication—leaders’ use of motivating language—can facilitate newcomers’ socialization, strengthen their relationship with the organization, and promote psychological well-being over time. Our findings, based on a two-wave longitudinal survey of 390 full-time employees in the United States, demonstrate that leaders who use motivating language, especially by providing guidance and creating a sense of purpose, facilitate new employees’ understanding of their roles and adaptation to the organization. The use of motivating language also has long-term benefits on newcomers’ relationship quality with the organization and their psychological well-being. We conclude by discussing the implications of our results for communication professionals designing onboarding programs and coaching organizational leaders on effective communication with new hires.
{"title":"The Impact of Supervisory Communication on Newcomers’ Adjustment, Well-Being, and Relationships With Their Organization: A Longitudinal Study","authors":"Cen April Yue, Sifan Xu, Weiting Tao, Lei Vincent Huang","doi":"10.1177/00936502241234011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00936502241234011","url":null,"abstract":"Integrating theories from relationship management, organizational socialization, and leadership communication, the current study examines how an essential component of internal communication—leaders’ use of motivating language—can facilitate newcomers’ socialization, strengthen their relationship with the organization, and promote psychological well-being over time. Our findings, based on a two-wave longitudinal survey of 390 full-time employees in the United States, demonstrate that leaders who use motivating language, especially by providing guidance and creating a sense of purpose, facilitate new employees’ understanding of their roles and adaptation to the organization. The use of motivating language also has long-term benefits on newcomers’ relationship quality with the organization and their psychological well-being. We conclude by discussing the implications of our results for communication professionals designing onboarding programs and coaching organizational leaders on effective communication with new hires.","PeriodicalId":48323,"journal":{"name":"Communication Research","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2024-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140961510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}