The Effects of Anthropomorphism on How People Evaluate Algorithm-Written News

Bibliographic Data

ID22010681
AuthorsWonseok Jang (0000-0003-1237-6163, Sungkyunkwan University, corresponding author), Jung Won Chun (0000-0002-5631-3474, Sejong University), Soojin Kim (0000-0003-3141-8621, Louisiana State University), Young Woo Kang (Sungkyunkwan University)
Year2023
Volume11
Issue1
Pages103-124
Publication date2023-01-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueDigital Journalism (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2167-0811 • E-ISSN: 2167-082X
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/21670811.2021.1976064
OpenAlexW3201258836
LanguageEN
Citations received15
References cited51

Based on the Modality-Agency-Interactivity-Navigability model and the anthropomorphism theory, this study examines whether embedding human-like characteristics in algorithms increases the persuasiveness of algorithm-written news. This study further investigates how different types of relationships (servant or friend) that human writers form with algorithms determine the persuasiveness of algorithm-generated news. Experiment 1 demonstrated that participants who read the human- and humanized algorithm-written news showed greater emotional involvement in the stories and liked the articles more than those who read the algorithm-written news. The participants also reported that news written by humans, humanized algorithms, and algorithms, had equal news credibility. Experiment 2 further showed that the participants perceived the news as more credible and experienced greater degrees of emotional involvement when human writers formed a partner-to-friend relationship with humanized algorithms while generating news rather than a servant-to-master relationship

Algorithm · Credibility · Epistemology · Generalizability theory · Interactivity · Journalism · Media studies · Servant · Sociology · World Wide Web · AI in Service Interactions · Computer Science · Media Influence and Health · Misinformation and Its Impacts · Psychology · Artificial Intelligence

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