Self-directed online information search can affect policy support: a randomized encouragement design with digital behavioral data

TL;DR

This study investigates how self-directed online information search influences policy support, using randomized experiments with passive browsing data from 791 Germans, revealing significant attitude shifts for some issues.

Contribution

It introduces a naturalistic experimental design with passive digital tracking to study media effects on policy attitudes, enhancing ecological validity.

Findings

Attitude shifts observed for child support and cannabis legalization.

No significant change in attitudes for renewable energy transition.

Passive tracking provides realistic insights into online information influence.

Abstract

The abundance of information sources in our digital environment makes it difficult to study how such information shapes individuals' support for current policies. Our study with 791 German participants investigates self-directed online search in a naturalistic setting through three randomized controlled experiments on three topical policy issues: basic child support, renewable energy transition, and cannabis legalization. Participants' online browsing was passively tracked. Significant attitude shifts were observed for child support and cannabis legalization, but not for renewable energy transition. By encouraging participants to seek online information, this study enhances ecological validity compared to traditional experiments that expose subjects to predetermined content. Our experimental approach lays the groundwork for future research to advance understanding of media effects within the dynamic online information landscape.