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Information Seeking and Processing during the Outbreak of COVID-19 in Taiwan: Examining the Effects of Emotions and Informational Subjective Norms

Author

Listed:
  • Shu-Chu Sarrina Li

    (Institute of Communication Studies, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan)

  • Shih-Yu Lo

    (Institute of Communication Studies, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan)

  • Tai-Yee Wu

    (Institute of Communication Studies, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan)

  • Te-Lin Chen

    (Institute of Applied Arts, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan)

Abstract

Adopting the model of risk information seeking and processing (RISP) as a theoretical framework, the objective of this study was to investigate the factors that prompted individuals’ information-seeking and -processing behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan. There were two unique aspects in this study: one was to adopt specific emotions to investigate the impact of negative emotions, and the other was to examine the effect of informational subjective norms (ISNs) on information-seeking and -processing behavior. An online survey was conducted by a professional polling company, and a stratified random sampling method was employed, using gender, age, education, personal income, and residential areas as strata to select participants. This study obtained 1100 valid questionnaires. The results showed that (1) risk perception did not exert any significant impacts on respondents’ perceived information insufficiency; (2) risk perception exerted a powerful impact on respondents’ ISNs, which, in turn, positively affected their information insufficiency; (3) the respondents who experienced fear were found to have a high probability of using a systematic-processing mode, while the respondents who experienced anger were more likely to adopt a heuristic-processing mode to process information; and (4) the use of a systematic-processing mode was positively associated, while the use of a heuristic-processing mode was negatively associated, with information-seeking behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Shu-Chu Sarrina Li & Shih-Yu Lo & Tai-Yee Wu & Te-Lin Chen, 2022. "Information Seeking and Processing during the Outbreak of COVID-19 in Taiwan: Examining the Effects of Emotions and Informational Subjective Norms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-13, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:15:p:9532-:d:879345
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    References listed on IDEAS

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