Information misbehaviour: modelling the motivations for the creation, acceptance and dissemination of misinformation

• Published in: Journal of documentation Vol. 78; no. 7; pp. 485 - 505
• Main Authors: Wilson, Thomas D., Maceviciute, Elena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford Emerald Publishing Limited 19.12.2022; Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subjects: Algorithms; Audiences; Biblioteks- och informationsvetenskap; Communication; Communication (Thought Transfer); Content analysis; Definitions; False information; Information behaviour; Information Needs; Information science; Information Seeking; Information seeking behavior; Intention; Language Research; Library and Information Science; Literary Genres; Literature reviews; Media Literacy; Misinformation; Motivation; Population Distribution; Printed Materials; Propaganda; Regulation of financial institutions; Social Media; Social networks; War; Russia; Information behaviour; Motivation; Misinformation
• ISSN: 0022-0418; 1758-7379; 1758-7379
• DOI: 10.1108/JD-05-2022-0116

PurposeMisinformation is a significant phenomenon in today's world: the purpose of this paper is to explore the motivations behind the creation and use of misinformation.Design/methodology/approachA literature review was undertaken, covering the English and Russian language sources. Content analysis was used to identify the different kinds of motivation relating to the stages of creating and communicating misinformation. The authors applied Schutz's analysis of motivational types.FindingsThe main types of motivation for creating and facilitating misinformation were identified as “in-order-to motivations”, i.e. seeking to bring about some desired state, whereas the motivations for using and, to a significant extent, sharing misinformation were “because” motivations, i.e. rooted in the individual's personal history.Originality/valueThe general model of the motivations underlying misinformation is original as is the application of Schutz's typification of motivations to the different stages in the creation, dissemination and use of misinformation.