Interruptions and Online Information Processing—1 Interruptions and Online Information Processing: The Role of Interruption Type, Interruption Content, and Interruption Frequency

Recent new media research has identified the construct of interruptions as an important variable in online information processing environments. We report results from two experiments that examine how online interruptions influence users ’ cognitive and affective perceptions toward both the interruptions and the Website that features them. Study 1 examines a social characteristic of interruptions and manipulates interruption type in terms of pop-ups and pop-unders. Study 2 employs a factorial design and explores the interaction between a social characteristic (interruption type) and a cognitive characteristic (interruption content), while increasing the frequency of interruptions during an information-processing experience. Findings from the two studies point to the psychological relevance of interruptions and provide a holistic perspective on the role of interruptions in influencing user cognitions and attitudes in Web-based environments