The role of Internet-specific epistemic beliefs in laypersons’ source evaluations and decisions during Web search on a medical issue

This study investigated the predictive value of epistemic beliefs about knowledge and knowing on the Web for source evaluations and post-search decisions when university students (n = 79) searched the Web to make an informed decision about a conflicting and unfamiliar medical issue. Epistemic beliefs were assessed with the Internet-Specific Epistemological Questionnaire (ISEQ) and processing of source information was measured through eye tracking, log files, and verbal protocols. Furthermore, Web users’ post-search decisions and their basis for those decisions were assessed. Results from multiple regression analyses indicated that beliefs in the Web as a reliable resource of accurate knowledge and detailed facts were related to decreased verbal reflection on the credibility and type of sources and decreased attention to the URLs of the search results, as well as a greater certainty in the post-search decision. In addition, doubts about the need to check knowledge claims on the Web against other sources, reason, and prior knowledge were related to a more one-sided representation of the conflicting issue. In conclusion, the findings suggested that Internet-specific certainty, source, and structure beliefs primarily play a role in source evaluation, while Internet-specific beliefs about the justification for knowing primarily play a role in constructing a complete representation of document contents.

• We examine the role of Internet-specific epistemic beliefs in medical Web search.
• Strong certainty, source, and structure beliefs relate to less source evaluation.
• Such beliefs also relate to greater certainty in post-search decisions.
• Naïve justification for knowing beliefs relate to less balanced argumentation.
• Web search experience relates to more source evaluation and more certain decisions.