Perceived information pollution: conceptualization, measurement, and nomological validity

Abstract

PurposeCurrently, employees are facing information explosion in the presence of disruptive information and communication technologies of industry 4.0. With the prevalent nature of information pollution, employees are suffering to process large volume of information in order to access quality information. The objective of present study is to develop a measurement scale of perceived information pollution in the context of workplace. Furthermore, this study aims to assess the nomological validity of the proposed construct.Design/methodology/approachThis study has employed a sequential exploratory mixed-method design to develop and validate the measurement scale of perceived information pollution. The population of the present study comprised of the employees who work in the operations and credit department of banking sector. The present study has used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to analyze data in AMOS.FindingsThe present study has developed the second-order measurement scale of perceived information pollution. The perceived information pollution comprises of five dimensions – accessible, intrinsic, contextual, representational, and distractive information pollution. This study has also confirmed the nomological validity of the information pollution in relation to employee's job satisfaction, work effort, and learning effort.Research limitations/implicationsManagement may employ the five dimensions as a benchmark in revealing polluted information as well as enhancing information quality through information processing.Originality/valueThis study has contributed to the literature of information management by providing a five-dimensional scale of perceived information pollution and confirming its nomological validity.