The Ways of Words: The Impact of Word Choice on Information Engagement
  and Decision Making
Nimrod Dvir Elaine Friedman Suraj Commuri Fan Yang Jennifer Romano
Little research has explored how information engagement (IE), the degree to
which individuals interact with and use information in a manner that manifests
cognitively, behaviorally, and affectively. This study explored the impact of
phrasing, specifically word choice, on IE and decision making. Synthesizing two
theoretical models, User Engagement Theory UET and Information Behavior Theory
IBT, a theoretical framework illustrating the impact of and relationships among
the three IE dimensions of perception, participation, and perseverance was
developed and hypotheses generated. The framework was empirically validated in
a large-scale user study measuring how word choice impacts the dimensions of
IE. The findings provide evidence that IE differs from other forms of
engagement in that it is driven and fostered by the expression of the
information itself, regardless of the information system used to view, interact
with, and use the information. The findings suggest that phrasing can have a
significant effect on the interpretation of and interaction with digital
information, indicating the importance of expression of information, in
particular word choice, on decision making and IE. The research contributes to
the literature by identifying methods for assessment and improvement of IE and
decision making with digital text.