Social Categories in/of Cyberspace: Frequency Effects and Trust in Media

Abstract

The current study examines the relationship between two social dimensions of trust (competence and warmth) and occupational frequency reference in several language corpora. Using archival data, Study 1 demonstrates a positive relationship between occupational frequency and ratings of prestige in user-generated content. Using experimental data, Study 2 found that a positive relationship between users’ ratings of social warmth and GoogleTrends data. Taken together, these results suggest that the two dimensions of trust might differ in terms how they are used to promote, and the change the perception of, source credibility.