Re-examining Interpersonal Source Credibility in Collaboration with Community: A Convergent Mixed Methods Study

Publication Title

Journal of Applied Communication Research

Authors

• Lillie D. Williamson, Department of Communication Arts University of Wisconsin-MadisonFollow
• Lauren A. Cafferty, George Washington University
• Jennifer L. Waller, Department of Family and Community Medicine Medical College of Georgia at Augusta UniversityFollow
• Leslie Wolf, Georgia State University College of LawFollow
• Samantha R. Jones, Medical College of Georgia
• Christy J. Ledford, Department of Family and Community Medicine Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2026

Comments

The perceived credibility of researchers has implications for how the public heeds scientific or public health recommendations and for whether individuals engage in research. As scholars have shifted attention to mass communication and computer-mediated communication, they have not continued to interrogate how communities conceptualize and evaluate interpersonal source credibility. We conducted a community-engaged, convergent mixed-methods study to investigate interpersonal source credibility in the context of communication between researchers and research participants. Results indicated that community members conceptualized interpersonal source credibility in ways not currently captured by the predominantly used measure of source credibility (e.g. expertise in understanding the community rather than formal training). Additionally, results revealed logistical issues with the use of the semantic differential scale. Findings are discussed in terms of theoretical implications for the conceptualization and measurement of interpersonal source credibility, as well as the practical implications for communication scholars and practitioners conducting research in community.

Recommended Citation

Lillie D. Williamson, et al., Re-examining Interpersonal Source Credibility in Collaboration with Community: A Convergent Mixed Methods Study, 54 J. Applied Commc’n Rsch. 165 (2026).

Institutional Repository Citation

Lillie D. Williamson, Lauren A. Cafferty, Jennifer L. Waller, Leslie Wolf, Samantha R. Jones & Christy J. Ledford, Re-examining Interpersonal Source Credibility in Collaboration with Community: A Convergent Mixed Methods Study, Faculty Publications By Year 3750 (2026)
https://readingroom.law.gsu.edu/faculty_pub/3750

DOI

10.1080/00909882.2025.2599824

Volume

54

Issue

2

First Page

165

Last Page

185