Antecedents and Outcomes of Online Serendipity : Contextual Differences Between Online Services
Type
conference paper
Date Issued
2015-05-22
Author(s)
Abstract
The abundance of online information necessitates the increasingly selective filtering of content for convenient user experiences. Critics worry that algorithmic filtering based on homophily leads to a loss of diversity. In turn, "serendipity", positive experiences due to the encounter of surprising content, is touted as an antidote to overly polished, repetitive use experiences. Little is known, however, about the antecedents and effects of online serendipity. Studies suggest that these antecedents and effects vary by online context, yet few have analyzed this empirically. We identify antecedents of online serendipity using a survey of German Internet users. We then differentiate the proposed serendipity model according to three online contexts: shopping, information and social networks. We find that online serendipity is indeed context-specific. While in the shopping and information context serendipity does not lead to satisfaction with the user experience, on social network sites it has a significant positive effect.
Language
English
Keywords
serendipity
social media
online shopping
social network sites
search
affordances
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
HSG Profile Area
SoM - Business Innovation
Refereed
Yes
Book title
Communication Across The Life Span
Publisher
ICA International Communication Association
Publisher place
Washington
Start page
1
End page
34
Pages
34
Event Title
65th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA) 2015
Event Location
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Event Date
21.-25.05.2015
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
240181
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Name
ICA Serendipity Presentation Christoph Lutz.pdf
Size
1.5 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
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