This underscores the critical role of information as a precursor to knowledge, rather than knowledge itself (Zins, 2007; Frické, 2009). In digital environments, symbols, letters, words, and phrases have the potential to contribute to knowledge formation, necessitating effective communication and optimal information presentation for Information Systems (IS) success (Delone & McLean, 2003; Venkatesh & Bala, 2008; ISO, 2019). Engagement, defined as the emotional, cognitive, and behavioral connection between users and technological resources, has emerged as a key metric for evaluating user experience (UX), reflecting user interaction depth with a system (O'Brien et al., 2020; Attfield et al., 2011; O'Brien & Cairns, 2016). The digitization of communication through Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has revolutionized information conveyance, demanding engaging and effective digital content to ensure successful knowledge transmission and user retention (Beaudry, 2005; Dvir, 2018). Information Engagement (IE) has gained prominence, focusing on the quality of user-system interactions and the impact of digital content design on user decision-making and UX (ISO, 2019; O'Brien, 2020). IE is crucial in enhancing user interactions across domains such as education, government, and industry, aiming to foster meaningful user engagement with digital text (Choi et al., 2018; Feng et al., 2020; Han et al., 2022). Failure to achieve IE with digital text hinders content producers, yet overcoming this challenge is complicated by a lack of engaging information experience guidelines (Blythe, 2005; Overbeeke et al., 2003). Limited research on IE development has resulted in a scarcity of systematic approaches for its initiation, sustainment, and improvement (O'Brien, 2017; O'Brien & Toms, 2016).

This study introduces and empirically tests a novel predictive model for digital information engagement (IE) - the READ model, an acronym for the four pivotal attributes of engaging information: Representativeness, Ease-of-use, Affect, and Distribution. Conceptualized within the theoretical framework of Cumulative Prospect Theory, the model integrates key cognitive biases with computational linguistics and natural language processing to develop a multidimensional perspective on information engagement. A rigorous testing protocol was implemented, involving 50 randomly selected pairs of synonymous words (100 words in total) from the WordNet database. These words' engagement levels were evaluated through a large-scale online survey (n = 80,500) to derive empirical IE metrics. The READ attributes for each word were then computed and their predictive efficacy examined. The findings affirm the READ model's robustness, accurately predicting a word's IE level and distinguishing the more engaging word from a pair of synonyms with an 84% accuracy rate. The READ model's potential extends across various domains, including business, education, government, and healthcare, where it could enhance content engagement and inform AI language model development and generative text work. Future research should address the model's scalability and adaptability across different domains and languages, thereby broadening its applicability and efficacy.

Little research has explored how information engagement (IE), the degree to which individuals interact with and use information in a manner that manifests cognitively, behaviorally, and affectively. This study explored the impact of phrasing, specifically word choice, on IE and decision making. Synthesizing two theoretical models, User Engagement Theory UET and Information Behavior Theory IBT, a theoretical framework illustrating the impact of and relationships among the three IE dimensions of perception, participation, and perseverance was developed and hypotheses generated. The framework was empirically validated in a large-scale user study measuring how word choice impacts the dimensions of IE. The findings provide evidence that IE differs from other forms of engagement in that it is driven and fostered by the expression of the information itself, regardless of the information system used to view, interact with, and use the information. The findings suggest that phrasing can have a significant effect on the interpretation of and interaction with digital information, indicating the importance of expression of information, in particular word choice, on decision making and IE. The research contributes to the literature by identifying methods for assessment and improvement of IE and decision making with digital text.