Confidence in information as a factor of confidence in electronic mass media

The contribution makes an attempt to explain the nature of information from the positions of social psychology, and the nature of electronic mass media as a new social phenomenon. It presents the author’s understanding of information, which is based on the principles of classic information theory and psychosemantics as well as understanding of nature of confidence in information. The research examines the information broadcast by electronic (online) mass media with regard to the following hypothesis: the most significant component of confidence in information is its reliability; significance of information qualities which compose the reliability component is defined by specific character of the preferred online media and the type of information. The total sample scope was 304 persons: 116 persons took part in the pilot research in order to develop and approbate the author’s methods, and 188 persons - in the main research in order to receive the final conclusions. The data presented in the article is the particular result of an extensive research studying the socio-psychological factors of user’s confidence in information (on the example of electronic mass communication).

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