Effects of exemplars and base-rate information on online physician rating sites

In recent years, the number of users on online physician rating sites has increased continuously. According to exemplification theory, user comments have a strong influence on individual judgments. Visualized base-rate information can constrain these effects. This study examines the impact of exempl...

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Main Authors: Anne Reinhardt, Winja Weber, Constanze Rossmann
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG 2018-01-01
Series:Studies in Communication, Media
Online Access:https://www.nomos-elibrary.de/10.5771/2192-4007-2017-4-420
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author Anne Reinhardt
Winja Weber
Constanze Rossmann
author_facet Anne Reinhardt
Winja Weber
Constanze Rossmann
author_sort Anne Reinhardt
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, the number of users on online physician rating sites has increased continuously. According to exemplification theory, user comments have a strong influence on individual judgments. Visualized base-rate information can constrain these effects. This study examines the impact of exemplars and base-rate information regarding physician rating sites on the perception and evaluation of doctors, as well as participants’ behavioral intentions. To address this question, we conducted a 2 x 2 x 2 online experiment (N = 216). We developed eight alternative versions of a physician rating site, varying the valence of the exemplars (factor 1: positive/negative) and base-rate information (factor 2: positive/negative) and the type of presentation of the base-rate information (factor 3: bar graph/average grade). Our results show that the valence of both significantly influenced participants’ recall, evaluation and behavioral intentions. Furthermore, the negative bar graph led to a more accurate evaluation than the negative average grade. The strong impact of base-rate information limits the scope of exemplification effects in the context of physician online rating sites.
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spelling doaj.art-f217ac4555544e7091a9e9d5ba36b4e92022-12-21T23:38:22ZdeuNomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KGStudies in Communication, Media2192-40072018-01-016442044310.5771/2192-4007-2017-4-4201057712192400720174420Effects of exemplars and base-rate information on online physician rating sitesAnne ReinhardtWinja WeberConstanze RossmannIn recent years, the number of users on online physician rating sites has increased continuously. According to exemplification theory, user comments have a strong influence on individual judgments. Visualized base-rate information can constrain these effects. This study examines the impact of exemplars and base-rate information regarding physician rating sites on the perception and evaluation of doctors, as well as participants’ behavioral intentions. To address this question, we conducted a 2 x 2 x 2 online experiment (N = 216). We developed eight alternative versions of a physician rating site, varying the valence of the exemplars (factor 1: positive/negative) and base-rate information (factor 2: positive/negative) and the type of presentation of the base-rate information (factor 3: bar graph/average grade). Our results show that the valence of both significantly influenced participants’ recall, evaluation and behavioral intentions. Furthermore, the negative bar graph led to a more accurate evaluation than the negative average grade. The strong impact of base-rate information limits the scope of exemplification effects in the context of physician online rating sites.https://www.nomos-elibrary.de/10.5771/2192-4007-2017-4-420
spellingShingle Anne Reinhardt
Winja Weber
Constanze Rossmann
Effects of exemplars and base-rate information on online physician rating sites
Studies in Communication, Media
title Effects of exemplars and base-rate information on online physician rating sites
title_full Effects of exemplars and base-rate information on online physician rating sites
title_fullStr Effects of exemplars and base-rate information on online physician rating sites
title_full_unstemmed Effects of exemplars and base-rate information on online physician rating sites
title_short Effects of exemplars and base-rate information on online physician rating sites
title_sort effects of exemplars and base rate information on online physician rating sites
url https://www.nomos-elibrary.de/10.5771/2192-4007-2017-4-420
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