The Role of News Media Use and Demographic Characteristics in the Possibility of Information Overload Prediction

Authors

  • Qihao Ji Florida State University
  • Louisa Ha Bowling Green State University
  • Ulla Sypher Florida State university

Keywords:

Information overload, news use, survey, digital literacy, information processing

Abstract

Drawing on the information overload theory, this study investigates how news media use relates to the probability of information overload.Our broad goal is to explore how typical media use outside the working environment impacts information overload. Through a large mail survey conducted in northwest Ohio (N = 661), the study combined resident samples and college student samples and examined several variables regarding demographic characteristics, news media use, and information searching efficiency. Multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze the data. Results confirmed that age, gender, income, traditional news media use, and information searching efficiency can partially predict one’s probability of experiencing information overload. Theoretical explanations for these outcomes are presented, and implications for information overload research are discussed.

Author Biographies

Qihao Ji, Florida State University

Doctoral  student of communication at Florida State University.

Louisa Ha, Bowling Green State University

Professor and Chair of Telecommunication at Bowling Green State University. 

Ulla Sypher, Florida State university

Associate Professor and Director of communication at Florida State University.

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Published

2014-02-15

Issue

Vol. 8 (2014)

Section

Articles

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