Belief dynamics in web search

Abstract

People frequently answer consequential questions, such as those with a medical focus, using Internet search engines. Their primary goal is to revise or establish beliefs in one or more outcomes. Search engines are not designed to furnish answers, and instead provide results that may contain answers. Information retrieval research has targeted aspects of information access such as query formulation, relevance, and search success. However, there are important unanswered questions on how beliefs‐and potential biases in those beliefs‐affect search behaviors and how beliefs are shaped by searching. To understand belief dynamics, we focus on yes‐no medical questions (e.g., “Is congestive heart failure a heart attack?”), with consensus answers from physicians. We show that (a) presearch beliefs are affected only slightly by searching and changes are likely to skew positive (yes); (b) presearch beliefs affect search behavior; (c) search engines can shift some beliefs by manipulating result rank and availability, but strongly‐held beliefs are difficult to move using uncongenial information and can be counterproductive, and (d) search engines exhibit near‐random answer accuracy. Our findings suggest that search engines should provide correct answers to searchers’ questions and develop methods to persuade searchers to shift strongly held but factually incorrect beliefs.

Effects of task complexity on online search behavior of adolescents

“…Although we did not look into this, one might argue that already existing beliefs had an effect. As other research has shown, prior attitudes affect the information problem-solving process in several ways (e.g., Brannon, Tagler, & Eagly, 2007;Fischer & Greitemeyer, 2010;Van Strien, Brand-Gruwel, & Boshuizen, 2014;White, 2014). Of importance to this study is the effect on keyword choice and search result selection.…”

“…Of importance to this study is the effect on keyword choice and search result selection. People tend to search for information that is consistent with their prior beliefs (Fischer & Greitemeyer, 2010), and hence formulate search queries that are strongly biased to finding supporting information (White, 2014). Furthermore, people with strong beliefs are more likely to choose information that is in line with their beliefs (Brannon, Tagler, & Eagly, 2007;Van Strien, Brand-Gruwel, & Boshuizen, 2014).…”

Dr. Google, what can you tell me about homeopathy? Comparative study of the top10 websites in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Mexico and Spain

“…In the case of searches on health, the biases that can occur are determinant for users, as one of the problems detected when consulting Dr. Google is that the more you look for the less you trust the doctor (Van-Riel et al, 2017). Regarding the effects of search results users find, we must bear in mind that these have a great influence on decision making (Pogacar et al, 2017) and that the dominant response can be decisive (White, 2014).…”

The use of self moderated focus groups to gather exploratory data on information beliefs and their impact on information seeking behaviour

“…Previous studies exploring aspects of belief systems in relation to information seeking have variously considered how users form beliefs about the expected value of information (Savolainen, 2015), the influence of pre-existing beliefs on online search for information (St. Jean et al, 2015), young people's evaluation of information on the web (Shenton, Pickard, & Johnson, 2014), belief dynamics in web search (White, 2014), and the impact of religious beliefs on information seeking (Michaels, 2012).Conversely if one examines psychology theory, phenomena such as chronic unease, vigilance, pessimism, imagination, flexible thinking, and worry may potentially yield interesting insights in considering information behaviour. There is a recognition that information is often ambiguous and that the absence of certainty is a common operating mode and that not knowing for sure is ubiquitous in organisations (Flin & Fruhen, 2015).…”