The Impact of User Reviews on Older and Younger Adults’ Attitude towards Online Medication Information
Year: 2011
Type: article
Abstract: A laboratory study was conducted to explore whether the presence of online user reviews, specifically its interaction with the credibility of information on the Website, has differential impact on younger and older adults' attitude towards medication information on the Internet.Results showed that while there was age difference in how message contents on the Web page influenced credibility judgments, the presence of user reviews moderated the age difference.Specifically, we found that: 1) when credibility cues in user reviews were consistent with the credibility cues in Web page contents, older adults' attitude towards the medication was reinforced more than younger adults, and 2) when the credibility cues in user reviews were inconsistent with the credibility cues in Web page contents, older adults were less sensitive to the influence of user reviews.Especially when highly positive user reviews were given to a seemingly noncredible medication, older adults were less likely to be swayed by user reviews.Possible causes of this age difference in the effects of user reviews were discussed.
Authors: Q. Vera Liao, Wai‐Tat Fu
Institution: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2573473689