Misinformation Exposure and Acceptance: The Role of Information Seeking and Processing

Abstract

The present study tests and extends the RISP model (a) by applying the model in the context of COVID-19 in South Korea and (b) by examining the impacts of information seeking and processing on misinformation exposure and acceptance. Based on a survey of 346 Korean adults, this study showed that information avoidance, but not information seeking, was a positive predictor of misinformation exposure. In addition, heuristic processing, but not systematic processing, moderated the relationship between misinformation exposure and misinformation acceptance, such that the relationship between misinformation exposure and misinformation acceptance was stronger among those who showed greater tendency for heuristic processing. In addition, information insufficiency was a negative predictor of both information avoidance and heuristic processing. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.