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O’Connor, Michelle (2022) Factors predicting the sharing of Covid 19 misinformation among social media users in Ireland. Undergraduate thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.
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Abstract
Social media has become widely used for the dissemination of information, more specifically Covid 19 information during the current pandemic. Not all of the information being shared is factual or verified, in fact it is estimated that more misinformation is shared than information that has been verified as factually correct. Using constructs from the Uses and Gratification theory framework, the current study aimed to examine the predictors of unverified information sharing in the context of social media users living in Ireland. The study was a cross sectional design and quantitative in nature and data was collected from a sample of social media users living in Ireland by way of an online questionnaire (n=141). Results found that altruism was the most significant factor predicting unverified information sharing in the context of Covid 19. Education was also found to be negatively associated with unverified information sharing. In contrast no relationship was found between unverified information sharing and information overload, online information trust, perceived susceptibility and severity, cyberchondria or age. There was also found to be no difference in scores of unverified information sharing between sexes. Practical implications for findings as well as limitations of the study and suggested further research are also discussed.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Undergraduate) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain > Ireland Z Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources > ZA Information resources > ZA4150 Computer Network Resources > The Internet > World Wide Web > Websites > Online social networks T Technology > TK Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering > Telecommunications > The Internet > World Wide Web > Websites > Online social networks |
| Divisions: | School of Business > BA (Honours) in Psychology |
| Depositing User: | Clara Chan |
| Date Deposited: | 18 Jul 2022 15:41 |
| Last Modified: | 18 Jul 2022 15:41 |
| URI: | https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/5670 |
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