@article{StoffelsFaltermaierStrunketal.2024, author = {Stoffels, Dominik and Faltermaier, Stefan and Strunk, Kim Simon and Fiedler, Marina}, title = {Guiding computationally intensive theory development with explainable artificial intelligence: The case of shapley additive explanations}, series = {Journal of Information Technology (ISSN: 1466-4437)}, volume = {40}, journal = {Journal of Information Technology (ISSN: 1466-4437)}, number = {2}, publisher = {SAGE Publications}, address = {London, England}, issn = {0268-3962}, doi = {10.1177/02683962241289597}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-16762}, pages = {180 -- 213}, year = {2024}, abstract = {This study advances the field of Computationally Intensive Theory Development (CTD) by examining the capabilities of Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI), in particular SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), for theory development, while providing guidelines for this process. We evaluate SHAP's methodological abilities and develop a structured approach for using SHAP to harness insights from black-box predictive models. For this purpose, we leverage a dual-methodological approach. First, to assess SHAP's capabilities in uncovering patterns that shape a phenomenon, we conduct a Monte-Carlo simulation study. Second, to illustrate and guide the theory development process with SHAP for CTD, we apply SHAP in a use-case using real-world data. Based on these analyses, we propose a stepwise uniform and replicable approach giving guidance that can benefit rigorous theory development and increase the traceability of the theorizing process. With our structured approach, we contribute to the use of XAI approaches in research and, by uncovering patterns in black-box prediction models, add to the ongoing search for next-generation theorizing methods in the field of Information Systems (IS).}, subject = {-}, language = {en} } @article{RyzhovaToepfl2024, author = {Ryzhova, Anna and Toepfl, Florian}, title = {The Consequences of Evidence- Versus Non-Evidence-Based Understandings of the "Truth": How Russian Speakers in Germany Negotiate Trust in Their Transnational News Environments}, series = {The International Journal of Press/Politics (ISSN: 1940-1620)}, volume = {30}, journal = {The International Journal of Press/Politics (ISSN: 1940-1620)}, number = {1}, publisher = {SAGE Publications}, address = {Los Angeles, CA}, issn = {1940-1612}, doi = {10.1177/19401612241257872}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-16795}, pages = {326 -- 345}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Extant research on migrants' media use and trust has delivered mixed evidence on whether, and in which ways, migrants stay loyal to their homeland news media and/or develop trust in host-society media, particularly when the narratives of the two types of media clash. To advance this strand of research, this study scrutinizes how an audience group with migration background, who lived the first part of their lives under authoritarian rule but then relocated to a democracy, negotiates trust in their multilingual, transnational news environments. Specifically, we conducted semi-structured interviews with forty-two Russian-speaking first-generation migrants living in Germany in 2021. As we find, distinct understandings of the concept of "truth" played a pivotal role in how our participants negotiated trust in their transnational news environments. We distinguish broadly two understandings of "truth": (1) "truth" as a category grounded in factual evidence and (2) "truth" as a non-evidence based category grounded in values, emotions, or identities. Illustrative for the second understanding, some participants felt a strong moral obligation to believe Kremlin-sponsored media as they perceived these organizations as representing their homeland, independently of whether their news coverage was factually accurate or not. The two understandings of "truth" also affected how and where participants sought for what they considered the "truth." In the "Discussion" section, we argue that particularly the non-evidence-based truth-understandings formulated by our participants, and the ensuing truth-seeking strategies are conducive to the reach and persuasive impact of Kremlin-sponsored content among Russian speakers living abroad.}, subject = {-}, language = {en} } @article{BeselerToepfl2024, author = {Beseler, Arista and Toepfl, Florian}, title = {Conduits of the Kremlin's Informational Influence Abroad? How German-Language Alternative Media Outlets Are Connected to Russia's Ruling Elites}, series = {The International Journal of Press/Politics (ISSN: 1940-1620)}, volume = {30}, journal = {The International Journal of Press/Politics (ISSN: 1940-1620)}, number = {3}, publisher = {SAGE Publications}, address = {Los Angeles, CA}, issn = {1940-1612}, doi = {10.1177/19401612241230284}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-16755}, pages = {659 -- 678}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Extant research on alternative media in Western democracies has focused on scrutinizing their content, organization, production, and audiences. However, the extent to which alternative outlets are linked to powerful foreign actors has not yet been analyzed, despite the fact that a plethora of outlets have openly sided with Russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, spreading the Kremlin's propagandistic narratives. To fill this gap, this study adopts a case study approach. It selects Germany as a revelatory case of a key target country of Russia's foreign influence efforts, raising the question of how and to what extent German-language alternative media outlets are connected to Russia's ruling elites. Grounded in qualitative analysis of a wide range of documents, this study proposes a categorization that divides the connections into three different types: organizational, media, and personal connections. Subsequently, it is demonstrated that half of the analyzed German-language alternative media outlets maintain at least one of these three types of connections to the Kremlin. These findings contribute to our knowledge of alternative media, as well as Russia's overt and covert foreign influence operations, the so-called "active measures." They also highlight the need for more transparency in alternative media landscapes in democratic contexts across the globe.}, subject = {-}, language = {en} }