Incivility in user comments on online news articles: Investigating the role of opinion dissonance for the effects of incivility on attitudes, emotions and the willingness to participate

Julia Lück; Carlotta Nardi

doi:10.5771/2192-4007-2019-3-311

Contents
- Chapter Expand | CollapseAuthorsPage
- Titelei/Inhaltsverzeichnis
- 287–412 FULL PAPER 287–412
  - 287–310 Bypassing traditional sports media? Why and how professional volleyball players use social networking sites Daniel Nölleke, Thomas Birkner Daniel Nölleke, Thomas Birkner 287–310
  - 311–337 Incivility in user comments on online news articles: Investigating the role of opinion dissonance for the effects of incivility on attitudes, emotions and the willingness to participate Julia Lück, Carlotta Nardi Julia Lück, Carlotta Nardi 311–337
  - 338–377 In Zukunft ohne Text oder ohne Text keine Zukunft? Eine Evaluation der Reform des Telemedienauftrags aus Nutzer*innenperspektive Pascal Schneiders Pascal Schneiders 338–377
  - 378–412 Informationssuche als Beziehungstat. Der Zusammenhang zwischen relationalen Faktoren und Motiven der stellvertretenden Suche nach Gesundheitsinformationen Doreen Reifegerste, Marko Bachl Doreen Reifegerste, Marko Bachl 378–412
- 413–429 RESEARCH-IN-BRIEF 413–429
  - Refining the Response-Frequency Measure of Media Habit – The role of time pressure Anna Schnauber-Stockmann, Teresa K. Naab Anna Schnauber-Stockmann, Teresa K. Naab
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SCM Studies in Communication and Media , page 311 - 337

Incivility in user comments on online news articles: Investigating the role of opinion dissonance for the effects of incivility on attitudes, emotions and the willingness to participate

Autoren

Julia Lück Carlotta Nardi

DOI
- doi.org/10.5771/2192-4007-2019-3-311
- ISSN: 2192-4007
- ISSN online: 2192-4007
Abstract

Online discussions in comment sections on news websites often do not follow deliberative standards but are instead marked by uncivil expressions of disaffirmation and frustration. This study investigates the effects uncivil statements can have on readers of those comments, especially when the opinion expressed in that comment is contrary to their beliefs. In an online experiment embedded in an online survey 427 participants were confronted with a neutral news article that was accompanied by either civil or uncivil user comments that supported or opposed their own opinions (2×2 between-subject design). Articles and commentaries dealt with the refugee question in Germany. The research focuses on readers’ open-mindedness, willingness to talk to the other side, attitude certainty, moral indignation and willingness to participate in online and offline activities when being exposed to incivility in an online debate. The results support the assumption that incivility has detrimental effects for a deliberative online discussion, but we cannot confirm that the combination of uncivil and unlike-minded comments has the most adverse effects.
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