Citation

Griffin RJ, Neuwirth K, Dunwoody S, Giese J. Media Psychol. 2004; 6(1): 23-61.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1207/s1532785xmep0601_2

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In an effort to better understand individuals' use of information in risky situations, in this article we propose a new variable, information sufficiency, as an important component of people's information-seeking behaviors. We surveyed residents of 2 Great Lakes cities to test the ability of a group of factors often employed in risk communication studies to predict information sufficiency, defined as a person's sense of how much information he or she needs to cope with a risk. We found that 2 predictors of this perceived gap in information were an individual's worry about the risk and the perception that others would expect one to keep abreast of information about the risk.
In an effort to better understand individuals' use of information in risky situations, in this article we propose a new variable, information sufficiency, as an important component of people's information-seeking behaviors. We surveyed residents of 2 Great Lakes cities to test the ability of a group of factors often employed in risk communication studies to predict information sufficiency, defined as a person's sense of how much information he or she needs to cope with a risk. We found that 2 predictors of this perceived gap in information were an individual's worry about the risk and the perception that others would expect one to keep abreast of information about the risk.