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.

翻译：尽管信息参与（IE）——即个体在认知、行为和情感层面上与信息互动及运用信息的程度——鲜有研究涉及。本研究探讨了措辞（特别是词汇选择）对信息参与和决策的影响。通过综合用户参与理论（UET）和信息行为理论（IBT）两个理论模型，构建了一个阐明感知、参与和坚持这三个信息参与维度之间影响及关系的理论框架，并提出了相应假设。该框架在一项大规模用户研究中得到实证验证，该研究衡量了词汇选择对信息参与各维度的影响。研究结果表明，信息参与不同于其他形式的参与，其驱动和促进因素在于信息本身的表达方式，而与用于查看、互动及使用信息的系统无关。研究结果提示，措辞对数字信息的解读与互动具有显著影响，揭示了信息表达（特别是词汇选择）对决策和信息参与的重要性。本研究通过提出评估和改进数字文本信息参与及决策的方法，为相关文献做出了贡献。