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How Do People Evaluate a Web Site's Credibility?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the drudgereport dept.

theduck writes "Ever suspected (or feared) that web users are mostly mindless sheep evaluating your website more by the eye candy than your carefully crafted content? Well, it appears you were right. A study resulting from a collaboration between Consumer Webwatch and The Stanford Pervasive technology Lab reports that even though consumers say that they look for content first when evaluating the credibility of a website, they actually focus primarily on design look and information design/structure (i.e. ease of navigation). Of course, the study's methodology might have something to do with the results..."

8 of 141 comments (clear)

  1. Easy by Compact+Dick · · Score: 5, Funny

    They view the source to make sure only valid XHTML and CSS are used. Those that do get top scores :-)

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  2. I don't buy this by WolfWithoutAClause · · Score: 5, Funny

    The design/look of their consumer webwatch website is much too poor for me to ever buy their conclusion. ;-)

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    -WolfWithoutAClause

    "Gravity is only a theory, not a fact!"
  3. I'm not interested in credibility by Subcarrier · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...and neither are you. That's why we're both reading Slashdot.

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    "I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them." -- George H. W. Bush
  4. it appears you were right by z01d · · Score: 2, Funny

    Ever suspected (or feared) that web users are mostly mindless sheep evaluating your website more by the eye candy than your carefully crafted content?

    well, that's how i evaluating /., it has so many cute icons...Einstein, penguin...to mention just a few...

  5. YUCK! by dolo666 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Who in their right mind would be able to read a site with that horrible tone of blue? And they aren't using PHP so we know the report is bogus, right guys?

  6. Well.. by FrostedWheat · · Score: 3, Funny

    Banner adverts really lower my impression of a website ... *ahem*

  7. Least surprising insight in the report by melonman · · Score: 1, Funny

    "No-one claimed to be from Idaho, North Dakota, or Wyoming" (p14). Well, would you?

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  8. Captain Obvious by limekiller4 · · Score: 4, Funny

    michael writes:
    "Ever suspected (or feared) that web users are mostly mindless sheep evaluating your website more by the eye candy than your carefully crafted content? Well, it appears you were right."

    Thanks, michael.

    In other news. water is still wet, the sky is still blue and yes, Barbara Streisand still sucks.

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    My .02,
    Limekiller