The Ways of Words: The Impact of Word Choice on Information Engagement and Decision Making

TL;DR

This study investigates how word choice influences information engagement and decision making, developing and empirically validating a theoretical framework that highlights the importance of phrasing in digital information interaction.

Contribution

It introduces a new theoretical framework combining UET and IBT to analyze the impact of word choice on IE and empirically validates this model through a large-scale user study.

Findings

Word choice significantly affects perception, participation, and perseverance in IE.

Information expression influences interpretation and interaction regardless of the system used.

Phrasing impacts decision making and can be optimized to enhance engagement.

Abstract

Little research has explored how information engagement (IE), the degree to which individuals interact with and use information in a manner that manifests cognitively, behaviorally, and affectively. This study explored the impact of phrasing, specifically word choice, on IE and decision making. Synthesizing two theoretical models, User Engagement Theory UET and Information Behavior Theory IBT, a theoretical framework illustrating the impact of and relationships among the three IE dimensions of perception, participation, and perseverance was developed and hypotheses generated. The framework was empirically validated in a large-scale user study measuring how word choice impacts the dimensions of IE. The findings provide evidence that IE differs from other forms of engagement in that it is driven and fostered by the expression of the information itself, regardless of the information system used to view, interact with, and use the information. The findings suggest that phrasing can have a significant effect on the interpretation of and interaction with digital information, indicating the importance of expression of information, in particular word choice, on decision making and IE. The research contributes to the literature by identifying methods for assessment and improvement of IE and decision making with digital text.