Evaluating WikiTrust: A trust support tool for Wikipedia

Authors

  • Teun Lucassen University of Twente
  • Jan Maarten Schraagen University of Twente

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v16i5.3070

Keywords:

trust, credibility, support, Wikipedia, WikiTrust

Abstract

Because of the open character of Wikipedia readers should always be aware of the possibility of false information. WikiTrust aims at helping readers to judge the trustworthiness of articles by coloring the background of less trustworthy words in a shade of orange. In this study we look into the effects of such coloring on reading behavior and trust evaluation by means of an eye–tracking experiment. The results show that readers had more difficulties reading the articles with coloring than without coloring. Trust in heavily colored articles was lower. The main concern is that the participants in our experiment rated usefulness of WikiTrust low.

Author Biographies

Teun Lucassen, University of Twente

Ph.D. candidate, Department of Cognitive Psychology and Ergonomics

Jan Maarten Schraagen, University of Twente

Part-time professor in Applied Cognitive Psychology, Department of Cognitive Psychology and Ergonomics

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Published

2011-04-17

How to Cite

Lucassen, T., & Schraagen, J. M. (2011). Evaluating WikiTrust: A trust support tool for Wikipedia. First Monday, 16(5). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v16i5.3070

Issue

Section

Articles