A Field Study on Information Overload and News Information Overload of University Students: Ataturk University Sample

"Information Overload" (JO), which is the subject of a limited number of studies in the field of communication and journalism, is a problem that prevents individuals from using information effectively and usefully. Although citizens have greater access to news in the media, they may find it difficult to find news that will meet their expectations, demands, and needs in a media environment where information is abundant and intense. Therefore, the excessive amount of news also draws attention to the problem of "News Information Overload" (NIO). On the other hand, although the subject of Information Overload is related to news, research on the nature of the news ecosystem and news consumption is limited, and the issue is generally approached outside of news. In this respect, the study tries to gain a unique place in the field of journalism by contributing to the existing communication literature on the subject. In the study, fieldwork was conducted at Ataturk University in order to reveal the differences and connections between the perceptions of General Information Overload (GIO) and NIO. In the research based on the "Relational Survey Model", a questionnaire based on the General Information Overload Perception (GAEA) Scale and the Excessive News Information Burden Perception (AHHEA) Scale developed by Lee, Kim, and Koh (2016) was used as the data collection technique. According to the results obtained, the perception of GIO is relatively higher among women, those between the ages of 25 and 29, and people with generally high monthly communication costs. In addition, it has been determined that women and people with high monthly spending rates tend to increase their perception of NIO. There is no change in the perception of both burdens according to the situation of following daily news from new and traditional communication tools. Additionally, perception of GIO and perception of NIO are interrelated problems.

Journal

TURKIYE ILETISIM ARASTIRMALARI DERGISI-TURKISH REVIEW OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES

Year

2021

Issue

38

Pages

302-322

eISSN

2630-6220

DOI

10.17829/turcom.930825

WoS UID

WOS:000740030800007