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Media richness, user trust, and perceptions of corporate social responsibility

Author

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  • Charles H. Cho
  • Jillian R. Phillips
  • Amy M. Hageman
  • Dennis M. Patten

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to determine whether the presentation medium of corporate social and environmental web site disclosure has an impact on user trust in such disclosure, and to examine the effect of media richness on user perception about corporate social and environmental responsibility. Design/methodology/approach - The paper's methodology is a three‐by‐two between‐subjects design experiment, manipulating presentation medium and industry type. Participants viewed social and environmental web site disclosures and completed and communicated their perceptions of trust and the experimental companies' corporate social responsibility. Findings - The presentation medium richness of social and environmental web site disclosures is positively associated with: trusting intentions, but not trusting beliefs, of web site users; and user perception of corporate social and environmental responsibility. Research limitations/implications - As with all controlled experiments, the research design focused on internal validity to maintain control over the task design, manipulation, and measurement of variables. While this required trade‐offs with external validity, the task was designed based on real‐world scenarios to maintain high levels of external validity within the experimental setting. Practical implications - The paper provides evidence that corporations could use enhanced web‐based technology to potentially mislead users regarding their performance in the social domain. Originality/value - The paper extends the visual disclosure literature by examining the richness of the image/visual media, and investigates whether user perceptions are impacted by the variations in its richness.

Suggested Citation

  • Charles H. Cho & Jillian R. Phillips & Amy M. Hageman & Dennis M. Patten, 2009. "Media richness, user trust, and perceptions of corporate social responsibility," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 22(6), pages 933-952, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:aaajpp:v:22:y:2009:i:6:p:933-952
    DOI: 10.1108/09513570910980481
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Hans B. Christensen & Luzi Hail & Christian Leuz, 2021. "Mandatory CSR and sustainability reporting: economic analysis and literature review," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 1176-1248, September.
    3. Xi Fu & Xiaoxi Wu & Zhifang Zhang, 2021. "The Information Role of Earnings Conference Call Tone: Evidence from Stock Price Crash Risk," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 173(3), pages 643-660, October.
    4. Gianpaolo Tomaselli & Monia Melia, 2014. "The Role Of Interactive Technologies For Csr Communication," Economy & Business Journal, International Scientific Publications, Bulgaria, vol. 8(1), pages 324-340.
    5. Torelli, Riccardo & Balluchi, Federica & Lazzini, Arianna, 2019. "Greenwashing and Environmental Communication: Effects on Stakeholders’ Perceptions," OSF Preprints 97vxn, Center for Open Science.
    6. Cho, Charles H. & Roberts, Robin W. & Patten, Dennis M., 2010. "The language of US corporate environmental disclosure," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 431-443, May.
    7. Claire Gillet-Monjarret & Isabelle Martinez & Géraldine Rivière-Giordano, 2015. "La perception des commissaires aux comptes français sur la vérification sociétale : une expérimentation," Post-Print hal-01188799, HAL.
    8. Bryl Lukasz & Supino Enrico, 2022. "Sustainability Disclosure in Social Media – Substitutionary or Complementary to Traditional Reporting?," Journal of Intercultural Management, Sciendo, vol. 14(3), pages 41-62, September.
    9. Gerard Stone, 2011. "Let ' s talk," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 24(6), pages 781-809, August.
    10. Balluchi, Federica & Lazzini, Arianna & Torelli, Riccardo, 2020. "CSR and Greenwashing: A Matter of Perception in the Search of Legitimacy," OSF Preprints 5x6sy, Center for Open Science.
    11. Terri R. Kurtzberg & Sanghoon Kang & Charles E. Naquin, 2018. "The Effect of Screen Size and E-Communication Richness on Negotiation Performance," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 27(4), pages 573-592, August.
    12. Riccardo Torelli & Federica Balluchi & Arianna Lazzini, 2020. "Greenwashing and environmental communication: Effects on stakeholders' perceptions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 407-421, February.
    13. Tobias Gerwing & Peter Kajüter & Maximilian Wirth, 2022. "The role of sustainable corporate governance in mandatory sustainability reporting quality," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 92(3), pages 517-555, April.
    14. Patten, Dennis M., 2015. "An insider's reflection on quantitative research in the social and environmental disclosure domain," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 45-50.
    15. Filippo Vitolla & Nicola Raimo & Elbano De Nuccio, 2021. "Integrated Reporting: Development and State of Art —The Italian Case in the International Context," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 13(11), pages 233-233, July.
    16. Klarissa Lueg & Rainer Lueg, 2021. "Deconstructing corporate sustainability narratives: A taxonomy for critical assessment of integrated reporting types," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(6), pages 1785-1800, November.
    17. Huang, Henry He & Liu, Chanjuan & Sun, Li, 2019. "Chemical releases and corporate cash holdings," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 159-173.
    18. Jane Davison & Samantha Warren, 2009. "Imag[in]ing accounting and accountability," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 22(6), pages 845-857, July.

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