What determines One's information seeking intention: Integrating information seeking theories in the context of climate change with Korean sample

Abstract

This study advances the risk information-seeking literature by theoretically and empirically distinguishing among three types of perceived norms, descriptive, injunctive, and subjective, in the context of climate change. Drawing on key constructs from the Risk Perception Attitude (RPA) framework and the Risk Information Seeking and Processing (RISP) model, this study tests an integrated model using a Korean sample. While prior RISP research has often subsumed multiple norm types under a single construct, this study treats them as conceptually distinct and tests their unique associations with information-seeking intentions. Results show that subjective norms, expectations from important others, were the strongest predictor of information-seeking intentions, while descriptive and injunctive norms had no direct effects. These findings underscore the importance of distinguishing among different types of perceived norms and demonstrate how such differentiation enhances understanding of normative influences on climate-related information-seeking within the Korean context. © 2026 Elsevier Ltd