Abstract
User comments have become an integral part of news websites. This study implements the well-validated theory of planned behavior (TPB) in order to understand the individual decision to post anonymous comments on news sites in Israel. We examine whether commenting is a spontaneous behavior, as has been argued in previous studies, or a reasoned behavior. Based on an internet survey (N = 707), the present study results support the hypothesis that the process involved in posting a comment in a specific socio-political context involves a reasoned action that can be understood by applying a generic theoretical model. Empirical support for TPB model hypotheses for intention prediction was evident, with the subjective norm-intention relation stronger than the attitude and perceived behavioral control–intention relations. In spite of the anonymous nature of the comments, findings highlight the relevance of the perceived socio-political context for individuals’ decision whether to post an anonymous comment.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1390-1408 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Journal | Journalism Studies |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 27 Jul 2018 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2017, © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Keywords
- Israel
- participatory journalism
- theory of planned behavior
- user comments