Perceptions of trust : the role of authority and religiosity in online profiles

• Main Author: Yeong, Audrey Si Ying
• Other Authors: Majeed Khader
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/62589
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Online love scams are not uncommon especially in the present era where individuals are heavily reliant on social networking sites for initiating relationships. Given the paucity of research on online love scams within a Singapore population, this study examines how online textual information, specifically Authority and Religiosity affect one’s perceived trustworthiness of others. For the purpose of this study, 101 undergraduate Singaporean students were recruited and individually exposed to four randomized dating profiles of the opposite gender with two levels of both authority and religiosity (high-low). Subsequently, they rated and ranked these profiles in terms of trustworthiness. Results of a 2 x 2 within subject ANOVA revealed a significant main effect for authority; profiles perceived to be high in authority were rated as more trustworthy. However, results only partially supported the main effect of religiosity on trustworthiness and the interaction effect between authority and religiosity on trustworthiness ratings. Nevertheless, this research suggests that textual information appearing online, in the absence of physical cues, can play a part in influencing individuals’ perceptions on determining how trustworthy the other party is. Results thus far have useful implications for users and regulators of online dating sites.