Date of Award
8-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Computer Science
Committee Chair/Advisor
Dr. Kelly Caine
Committee Member
Dr. Bart P. Knijnenburg
Committee Member
Dr. Long Cheng
Committee Member
Dr. Damon Woodard
Abstract
The online information landscape has evolved far beyond traditional journalism, encompassing a complex ecosystem of dynamic content creation, modification, and distribution. As online content circulates rapidly through digital platforms, concerns about authenticity, accountability, and credibility have grown, not only in response to misinformation but across broader contexts where trust in online content is essential. Technologies that support transparency, such as provenance tools, offer promising ways to enhance user confidence by surfacing cryptographic signals of origin, authorship, and edit history. However, there remains a need to understand how the design, usability, and placement of these tools influence users' assessments of online content's credibility, trustworthiness, and authenticity.
In this dissertation, I investigate the design and impact of provenance tools on users' perceptions of credibility in online information environments. Through three studies, I (1) examine user expectations and information needs related to provenance tools, (2) evaluate the usability of cryptographic provenance mechanisms, and (3) assess how embedded provenance tools influence credibility judgments and future adoption intentions in realistic online news environments. Study One offers a nuanced understanding of how provenance infrastructures can help users achieve their credibility-related goals as they navigate complex online environments. Study Two contributes actionable design insights for building provenance tools that are both trustworthy and user-friendly. Study Three demonstrates that provenance information significantly influences perceptions of both article and publisher credibility, and that exposure to such information shapes subsequent credibility judgments. Together, these studies contribute practical design recommendations for developing provenance systems that support informed credibility assessments in digital information environments.
Recommended Citation
Francis, Errol II, "Cryptographic Provenance Tools to Enhance Trust and Credibility of Online Information" (2026). All Dissertations. 4334.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/4334
Author ORCID Identifier
0000-0002-3486-9674
Included in
Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Databases and Information Systems Commons, Graphics and Human Computer Interfaces Commons, Human Factors Psychology Commons, Information Security Commons, Science and Technology Studies Commons, Software Engineering Commons