Every Blog Has Its Day: Politically-interested Internet Users’ Perceptions of Blog Credibility

The study found that blogs were judged as moderately credible, but as more credible than any mainstream media or online source, and reliance and motivations predicted blog credibility after controlling for demographics and political variables.

Abstract

This study employs an online survey to examine U.S. politically-interested Internet users’ perceptions of the credibility of blogs. The article focuses on the influence of blog reliance compared to motivations for visiting blogs in determining blog credibility. The study found that blogs were judged as moderately credible, but as more credible than any mainstream media or online source. Both reliance and motivations predicted blog credibility after controlling for demographics and political variables. Reliance proved a consistently stronger predictor than blog motivations. Also, information-seeking motives predicted credibility better than entertainment ones.