source bias

Source bias refers to perceptions of a source having a vested interest in message recipients accepting its communications, as well as perceptions of a source having a skewed perspective on a focal topic. As one dimension of perceived source credibility alongside expertise and trustworthiness, source bias can be distinguished from these other credibility facets; for instance, a source honestly communicating a skewed perspective can be simultaneously perceived as both trustworthy and biased. Source bias effects in misinformation contexts remain understudied compared to other credibility dimensions, contributing to theoretical gaps in understanding how source characteristics influence individuals' responses to false or misleading information.

Sources: Mang et al. (2024)