Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 10, 2026

Integrating Computerized Linguistic and Social Network Analyses to Capture Addiction Recovery Capital in an Online Community
Published on: May 31, 2019
The impact of displayed awards on the credibility and retention of Web site information
J Shon1, J Marshall, M A Musen
1Stanford Medical Informatics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5479, USA.
Abstract:
Ratings systems and awards for medical Web sites have proliferated, but the validity and utility of the systems has not been well established. This study examined the effect of awards on the perceived credibility and retention of health information on a Web page. We recruited study participants from Internet newsgroups and presented them with information on the claimed health benefits of shark cartilage. Participants were randomized to receive health information with and without a medical award present on the page. We subsequently asked them to evaluate the credibility of the Web page and posed multiple-choice questions regarding the content of the pages. 137 completed responses were included for analysis. Our results show that the presentation of awards has no significant effect on the credibility or retention of health information on a Web page. Significantly, the highly educated participants in our study found inaccurate and misleading information on shark cartilage to be slightly believable.
Related Concept Videos
Halo Effect
Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
First Impression
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Impression Management Techniques I: Managing Appearances
Types of Impact
The coefficient of restitution is a metric for understanding the dynamics of impacts. It quantifies the ratio of relative velocity...
