Universität zu Köln

Loy, Laura S., Masur, Philipp K. ORCID: 0000-0003-3065-7305, Schmitt, Josephine B. and Mothes, Cornelia (2019). Psychological predictors of political Internet use and political knowledge in light of the perceived complexity of political issues. Info. Commun. Soc., 22 (12). S. 1733 - 1751. ABINGDON: ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD. ISSN 1468-4462

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Abstract

In the era of the Internet, political communication becomes increasingly complex due to an abundance of available information. Moreover, many people evaluate politics as complex in a globalized world. The present study examined whether the perceived complexity of political issues would be related to individuals' political Internet use and political knowledge. Further, we investigated the associations of three key psychological concepts with political Internet use and political knowledge acquisition in light of the potential perceived complexity of political issues: time affluence, informational self-efficacy, and need for cognition (NfC). Findings are based on a national online survey of 1082 German Internet users. The degree of perceived complexity was weakly associated with political knowledge but was not related to political Internet use. Political Internet use, time affluence, and NfC were positively related to political knowledge, and informational self-efficacy predicted political knowledge through an increase in political Internet use. The perceived complexity of politics did not moderate the relation between these psychological concepts and political Internet use. We discuss theoretical and practical implications and future research directions.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Loy, Laura S. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Masur, Philipp K. UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0003-3065-7305 UNSPECIFIED Schmitt, Josephine B. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Mothes, Cornelia UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-159752
DOI:	10.1080/1369118X.2018.1450886
Journal or Publication Title:	Info. Commun. Soc.
Volume:	22
Number:	12
Page Range:	S. 1733 - 1751
Date:	2019
Publisher:	ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
Place of Publication:	ABINGDON
ISSN:	1468-4462
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language SELF-EFFICACY; PRESIDENTIAL-ELECTION; TIME PRESSURE; NEED; NEWS; COGNITION; COMMUNICATION; INFORMATION; PERFORMANCE; MOTIVATION Multiple languages Communication; Sociology Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/15975