Factors influencing public officials' responses to requests for information disclosure

Abstract This study sought to define factors that influence bureaucrats' decisions on whether to grant information disclosure requests. Whereas previous studies of this issue focused mainly on factors related to the work of a specific government agency, this study expanded that focus to include information-related and environmental factors, drawing on blame avoidance motivation theory, street-level bureaucracy theory, and principal–agent theory. Decision-tree analysis revealed that, while various factors influenced public officials' disclosure decisions, Information-related factors were the most influential, and blame avoidance was a stronger motivator than realizing public interests. Therefore, a crucial point for successful implementation of an information disclosure system is to prevent in advance the interference of blame avoidance motivation in the release of information.