The Wording Matters: On the Impact of References to Tentativeness in Written Information.

Thiebach M, Mayweg-Paus E, Jucks R

Abstract

Scientific information is part of our everyday online life. Online newspapers, magazines and interactive forums provide insights into latest research findings. The information themselves holds some conflicting evidence and preliminary results that readers need to take into account when using this information for their specific purpose. Which cues do readers use when evaluating scientific evidence a piece of information holds? In a 2x2 design students (n =157) were asked to read an online article on a new approach against the flu. Tentativeness was manipulated by providing hedges respectively by pointing to the origin of such information. After having read the text, participants were asked to write an answer text including their opinion towards the topic. Dependent measures comprised further usage of information as well as characteristics of the decision made. We found that decisions were perceived to be easier to make when there was no indication given. At the same time, participants’ further direct use of text-related information was more likely when hedges were used. In contrast, individuals were more likely to rely on their own knowledge when there were no lexical markers of tentativeness. Additionally, participants’ decisions were more in favor of the direction implied in the texts when no indication of the origin of the science-related information was given. However, no effect of experimental manipulation on the confidence of the decision exists. Based on these results, we discuss how the presentation of information may contribute to engaging in critical and elaborated processing of scientific information.