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The Effects of Situation, Attitude Intensity and Personality on Information-Seeking
29
Citations
0
References
1967
Year
Behavioral Decision MakingSocial PsychologyInformation SeekingSocial InfluenceInformation OverloadCommunicationSelf-monitoringPsychologySocial SciencesBiasAttitude IntensityConformitySocial IdentityBehavioral SciencesInformation SearchInformation BehaviorMotivationApplied Social PsychologyInformation ManagementSupportive InformationSocial CognitionHuman Information InteractionInformation ExposureInformation UsePersonality PsychologyInterpersonal CommunicationArtsPersuasion
Preference for supportive versus discrepant information are examined under three experimental situations surrounding information use: (1) a condition in which subjects receive chosen information by mail, (2) a condition in which subjects anticipate joining a discussion group following information exposure, and (3) a condition in which subjects expect to debate one another after exposure to information. The latter situations involving public use of information resulted in higher mean preferences for supportive information than the private situation. Among persons in the public situations, support-seeking was greater on issues about which the individuals felt strongly than issues on which they held moderate opinions. Information choices were not related to attitude intensity among subjects in the private situation. Personality variables of dogmatism and self-esteem correlated with information seeking, depending on the experimentally-manipulated situation surrounding information use. In the private condition, dogmatism was positively correlated with support-seeking. In the debate situation, self-esteem was negatively correlated with support-seeking, as predicted. However, self-esteem emerged as a positive correlate in the discussion situation.