Debunking Research

A systematic review examined “individual differences in susceptibility to health misinformation.” The results suggest those most likely to believe misinformation had conspiracy thinking, religiosity, conservative ideology, and using social media as an information source. Those able to resist misinformation were more educated, have more subject knowledge, literacy and numeracy skills, analytical thinking, and trust in science. (October 21, 2022)

A new study suggests it is possible to inoculate against misinformation by using short videos to educate against common manipulation techniques, including “emotionally manipulative language, incoherence, false dichotomies, scapegoating, and ad hominem attacks.” The videos “improve manipulation technique recognition, boost confidence in spotting these techniques, increase people’s ability to discern trustworthy from untrustworthy content, and improve the quality of their sharing decisions.” (Aug 24, 2022)

A recent study evaluated “interventions aimed at reducing viral misinformation online both in isolation and when used in combination.” The results suggest that isolated misinformation interventions are unlikely to be effective on their own, but a “combined approach” can lead to a “substantial reduction” in misinformation prevalence. (Jun 23, 2022)

A new study investigated how the “characteristics of misinformation” is different from factual sources. The author’s found misinformation content is easier to understand, emotional, and negative. What does this mean? While all misinformation is harmful, different types of misinformation occur, and we can’t “treat all misinformation equally.” (May 9, 2022)

The COVID-19 pandemic is labelled an “infodemic” of misinformation, in which scientific findings have led to conflicts, partly fueled by disinformation from “politically motivated actors” that may “distort public perception of scientific evidence.” A recent study suggests in such cases, “misleading and inappropriate argumentation must be identified” so “they can be used to inoculate the public against their effects.” (May 5, 2022)

Interventions that encourage social media users to check the accuracy of the news they share online reduces the sharing of false headlines and increases the sharing of quality news sources. The implications of the study, published in Nature Communications, suggests that reminding online users to check the quality of the news they share can reduce the spread of misinformation. (April 28, 2022)

It has long been suggested that how correct information is presented can impact the effectiveness of a debunk. For example, many recommend the use of a “truth sandwich” (facts followed by the corrected misinformation followed by the facts). But an interesting new study (still a preprint) finds that format really doesn’t matter. Good content is the key! (November 23, 2021)

A recent survey found that 78% of Americans believe or are not sure about at least one piece of misinformation about COVID, such as the (very) incorrect ideas that the vaccines cause infertility or that the government is hiding deaths from the vaccines. It’s so important to continue to counter this kind of misinformation! (November 23, 2021)

We live in a very chaotic information environment! While it is important to use credible sources to stay informed, it is also important to avoid information overload. A new study found that in “a pandemic such as Covid-19 news consumers need to be informed, but avoiding news is sometimes necessary to stay mentally healthy.” (October 21, 2021)

Researchers found that just two to four minutes of COVID related news scrolling “led to immediate and significant reductions in positive affect and optimism.” Remember to occasionally put down the phone! (October 21, 2021)

Studies have consistently found that social media is a major force driving the spread of misinformation. A new study adds to the growing body of literature finding that 85% of COVID misinformation was produced on social media, with Facebook being the biggest source (67%). The study also found that the United States, India and Brazil are the countries most impacted by misinformation. (September 28, 2021)

People who rely on intuition to make decisions are more likely to believe and spread misinformation. But those with “higher analytic thinking levels were less likely to rate COVID-19 misinformation as accurate and were less likely to be willing to share COVID-19 misinformation.” So, remember to pause and apply a bit of critical thinking! (September 28, 2021)

Numerous studies suggest that getting people to pause before they share online material might slow the spread of misinformation. Most people want to be accurate. But, as a recent study found, “people often share misinformation because their attention is focused on factors other than accuracy.” Finding ways to shift attention to accuracy can increase the “quality of news that people subsequently share.” Indeed, there seems to be a range of accuracy prompts that may be effective in this context. (July 26, 2021)

The body of evidence highlighting the value of debunking continues to grow. One recent study found that debunking misinformation online “improved subsequent truth discernment more than providing the same information during (labeling) or before (prebunking) exposure.” Another study also concluded that countering misinformation is effective, particularly if content that is easily sharable on social media and promotes credible facts are utilized. (July 26, 2021)