Government Surveillance and Internet Search Behavior

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Marthews ◽  
Catherine Tucker
Keyword(s):  
Search Behavior ◽  
Internet Search ◽  
Government Surveillance

scholarly journals TRENDS: How Internet Search Undermines the Validity of Political Knowledge Measures

2019 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-155
Author(s):  
Brianna Smith ◽  
Scott Clifford ◽  
Jennifer Jerit
Keyword(s):  
Search Engine ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Search Behavior ◽  
Political Knowledge ◽  
Factual Knowledge ◽  
Internet Search ◽  
Online Surveys ◽  
The Web

Political knowledge is central to understanding citizens’ engagement with politics. Yet, as surveys are increasingly conducted online, participants’ ability to search the web may undermine the validity of factual knowledge measures. Recent research shows this search behavior is common, even when respondents are instructed otherwise. However, we know little about how outside search affects the validity of political knowledge measures. Using a series of experimental and observational studies, we provide consistent evidence that outside search degrades the validity of political knowledge measures. Our findings imply that researchers conducting online surveys need to take steps to discourage and diagnose search engine use.

scholarly journals Internet Search Behavior, Liquidity and Prices in the Housing Market

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 368-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorinth W. van Dijk ◽  
Marc K. Francke
Keyword(s):  
Housing Market ◽  
Search Behavior ◽  
Internet Search

scholarly journals Global Infodemiology of COVID-19: Focus on Google Web Searches and Instagram Hashtags

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Rovetta ◽  
Akshaya Srikanth Bhagavathula
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Search Behavior ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Internet Search ◽  
Web Searches ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Bill Gates ◽  
Internet Searches ◽  
The U.S

AbstractBackgroundThough ‘infodemiological’ methods have been used in COVID-19 research, an examination of the extent of infodemic monikers (misinformation) use on the Internet remains limited.ObjectiveTo investigate Internet search behavior related to COVID-19 and examine the circulation of infodemic monikers through two platforms—Google and Instagram—during the current global pandemic.MethodsUsing Google Trends and Instagram hashtags (#), we explored Internet search activities and behaviors related to the COVID-19 pandemic from February 20, 2020, to May 06, 2020. We investigated the names used to identify the virus, health and risk perception, life during the lockdown, and information related to the adoption of COVID-19 infodemic monikers. We computed the average peak volume (APC) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) during the study period for the monikers.ResultsThe top five COVID-19-related terms in the Google searches were “coronavirus”, “corona”, “COVID”, “virus”, “corona virus”, and “COVID-19”. Countries with a higher number of COVID-19 cases had a higher number of COVID-19 queries on Google. The monikers “coronavirus ozone”, “coronavirus laboratory”, “coronavirus 5G”, “coronavirus conspiracy” and “coronavirus bill gates” were widely circulated on the Internet. Searches about ‘tips and cures’ for COVID-19 spiked in relation to the U.S. president speculating about a ‘miracle cure’ and suggesting the injection of disinfectant to treat the virus. Around two-thirds (66.1%) of Instagram users used the hashtags “COVID-19”, and “coronavirus” to disperse virus-related information.ConclusionGlobally, there is a growing interest in COVID-19, and numerous infodemic monikers continue to circulate on the Internet. Based on our findings, we hope to encourage mass media regulators and health organizers to be vigilant and diminish the use and circulation of these infodemic monikers on the Internet, to decrease the spread of misinformation.

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