Understanding the Moderating Effects of Relevant Channel Beliefs and Information Gathering Capacity in the Risk Information Seeking and Processing Model

The risk information seeking and processing (RISP) model posits that relevant channel beliefs (RCB) and perceived information gathering capacity (PIGC) moderate individuals’ risk information seeking and processing. However, this area has been underexplored, with past studies indicating that RCB is an inconsistent predictor. To address this, we used an expectancy-value approach (Griffin et al. 2013) to conceptualize and operationalize RCB, and we conducted an online survey with 2,251 adult residents of Hong Kong. Findings reveal that the new expectancy-value approach shows promise for strengthening the explanatory performance of RCB. Furthermore, the findings support the RISP model’s propositions that RCB and PIGC independently and jointly influence the relationship between information insufficiency and effortful seeking and processing of risk information. Specifically, among those with high PIGC, individuals who hold more favorable beliefs about interpersonal/one-to-few channels are more likely to actively seek risk information than those who hold less favorable beliefs. However, the directions of some moderating effects were not consistent with the model’s predictions. Notably, as information insufficiency increases, individuals with lower PIGC exhibit higher rates of information seeking and systematic processing compared to those with higher PIGC. We explore plausible explanations for these unexpected findings and discuss their theoretical and practical implications.