Actual and Perceived Knowledge about COVID-19: The Role of Information Behavior in Media

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic poses a global health threat that has dominated media coverage. However, not much is known about how individuals use media to acquire knowledge about COVID-19 under conditions of perceived threat. To address this, this study investigated how perceived threat affects media use (i.e., media volume and media breadth), and how media use in turn affects perceived and actual knowledge about COVID-19. In a German online survey, N = 952 participants provided information on their perceived threat and their media use to inform themselves about COVID-19. They further indicated how well they are informed about COVID-19 (perceived knowledge) and completed a COVID-19 knowledge test (actual knowledge). The results indicated that individuals who felt more threatened by COVID-19 used media more often to inform themselves (i.e., media volume), but focused on less different media channels (i.e., media breadth). Higher media volume was associated with higher perceived knowledge, but not with higher actual knowledge about COVID-19. Further, exploratory analyses revealed that perceived threat was linked to perceived knowledge, but not to actual knowledge. The association of perceived threat and perceived knowledge was mediated by increased media volume. Finally, a smaller media breadth was linked to higher perceived and actual knowledge.

Understanding the buffering effect of social media use on anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown

“…The discrepancy between self-perceived knowledge and actual knowledge of COVID-19 has been the subject of a recent scientific investigation (Granderath et al, 2020). The findings indicate that individuals who felt more threatened by COVID-19 were more likely to seek information about it.…”

Human information behavior during the Covid-19 health crisis. A literature review

“…People who perceived themselves more threatened used a smaller breath of means, but more often. However, higher media use frequency was related to higher perceived knowledge though not actual knowledge, that by contrast increased when the breath of media consumed was smaller (Granderath et al, 2020). In You and Lee (2021), the effectiveness of text SMS messages for supporting preventive behaviors was measured, indicating that preventive behaviors, such as wearing masks or avoiding crowds, were higher for people reading text messages, especially for females and older persons.…”

“…The Dreisiebner et al ( 2021) survey, with 308 participants from Germanspeaking countries, shows that the reported use of information from public organizations, public television, international sources, as well as national and local newspapers significantly increased. Several research studies show the effect of media and information consumption on both behavior and knowledge as mediated by different pre-defined emotions, such as perception of threat, worry, or concern (Granderath, Sondermann, Martin, & Merkt, 2020;Liu, 2020). The Liu (2020) survey, with 511 Chinese participants, revealed a connection between digital media consumption and a greater predisposition for preventive behaviors, including hand washing, use of face masks and avoiding places with many people, which was mediated by worry.…”

“…The Liu (2020) survey, with 511 Chinese participants, revealed a connection between digital media consumption and a greater predisposition for preventive behaviors, including hand washing, use of face masks and avoiding places with many people, which was mediated by worry. Granderath et al (2020) studied the effect of traditional and social media use on knowledge about the pandemic, in a sample of 952 German participants. People who perceived themselves more threatened used a smaller breath of means, but more often.…”