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Individual differences in information-seeking

Author

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  • Christopher. A. Kelly

    (University College London
    Max Planck University College London Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research)

  • Tali Sharot

    (University College London
    Max Planck University College London Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research)

Abstract

Vast amounts of personalized information are now available to individuals. A vital research challenge is to establish how people decide what information they wish to obtain. Here, over five studies examining information-seeking in different domains we show that information-seeking is associated with three diverse motives. Specifically, we find that participants assess whether information is useful in directing action, how it will make them feel, and whether it relates to concepts they think of often. We demonstrate that participants integrate these assessments into a calculation of the value of information that explains information seeking or its avoidance. Different individuals assign different weights to these three factors when seeking information. Using a longitudinal approach, we find that the relative weights assigned to these information-seeking motives within an individual show stability over time, and are related to mental health as assessed using a battery of psychopathology questionnaires.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher. A. Kelly & Tali Sharot, 2021. "Individual differences in information-seeking," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-27046-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27046-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Lu, Shan & Zhao, Jichang, 2024. "Investor network and stock return comovement: Information-seeking through intragroup and intergroup followings," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    2. Josue Garcia-Arch & Itxaso Barberia & Javier Rodríguez-Ferreiro & Lluís Fuentemilla, 2022. "Authority Brings Responsibility: Feedback from Experts Promotes an Overweighting of Health-Related Pseudoscientific Beliefs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-11, November.
    3. Gaia Molinaro & Irene Cogliati Dezza & Sarah Katharina Bühler & Christina Moutsiana & Tali Sharot, 2023. "Multifaceted information-seeking motives in children," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    4. Konstantin Offer & Dorothee Mischkowski & Zoe Rahwan & Christoph Engel, 2024. "Deliberately Ignoring Unfairness: Responses to Uncertain Inequality in the Ultimatum Game," Discussion Paper Series of the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods 2024_06, Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods.
    5. Horn, Samantha & Litovsky, Yana & Loewenstein, George, 2024. "Using curiosity to counter health information avoidance," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 340(C).
    6. Isabella Rischall & Laura Hunter & Greg Jensen & Jacqueline Gottlieb, 2023. "Inefficient prioritization of task-relevant attributes during instrumental information demand," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.

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