ABSTRACT

Information overload (IO) is described as a stress condition caused by the characteristics of information. Empirical primary studies support this relation. Based on existing primary research it is the aim of this meta-analysis to analyse which characteristics of information influence IO, to identify moderating factors influencing these relationships, and to estimate their average strength. A standardized literature search with the bibliographic database psycINFO was conducted for this purpose. Of a total of 193 studies, 24 fulfilled the criteria for inclusion in the quantitative analysis. Averaged over 40 effect sizes, a multi-level meta-analysis was carried out and resulted in a correlation of r =.22 [CI .166, .282] for the relation between overall information characteristics and IO. Quantitative characteristics of information confirmed a low correlation with IO (r =.15 [CI .071, .229]). Qualitative characteristics confirmed medium correlations (r =.26 [CI .189, .332]). Based on these results we argue for a more precise definition of IO and its causes. Furthermore, results indicated the moderating influence of information technologies on the relationship between information characteristics and IO, which is why further research on moderating factors might be promising.

摘要

信息过载（IO）被描述为由信息特征引起的压力条件。经验性的初步研究支持这种关系。基于现有的主要研究，本荟萃分析的目的是分析信息的哪些特征会影响IO，识别影响这些关系的调节因素并估计其平均强度。为此，使用书目数据库psycINFO进行了标准化文献检索。在193项研究中，有24项符合纳入定量分析的标准。平均超过40种效应大小，进行了多级荟萃分析，得出r的相关性总体信息特征与IO之间的关系= .22 [CI .166，.282]。信息的定量特征证实与IO的相关性较低（r = .15 [CI .071，.229]）。定性特征证实了中等相关性（r = .26 [CI .189，.332]）。基于这些结果，我们主张对IO及其原因进行更精确的定义。此外，结果表明信息技术对信息特征与IO之间关系的调节作用，这就是为什么进一步研究调节因素可能有希望的原因。