Debunking Resources

Our work is informed by the latest research on misinformation, psychology, science communication, and social media.

Check below for summaries of recent research and debunking resources, provided by the University of Alberta’s Health Law Institute.

Why is Misinformation Believable and Who’s at Risk?

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)

Can You “Inoculate” Against Misinformation?

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)

Tackling Misinformation Requires Combatting it From All Angles

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)

How Does Deceptive Content Differ from Reputable Sources?

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)

Politically Motivated Science Denial Requires Identification and Pre-Emptive Debunking

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)

Prompting Users to Check Accuracy Reduces Sharing Misinformation, Study Finds

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)

Spreading misinformation associated with mental health concerns?

More and more research has found a connection between health misinformation and mental health issues. A recent study, for example, found “users who shared COVID-19 misinformation experienced approximately two times additional increase in anxiety when compared to similar users who did not share misinformation.” While this research is correlational in nature, it does remind us of the potential mental health costs of misinformation. ( June 2nd, 2022)

Misinformation more emotional and negative in tone.

Why does misinformation spread further and deeper than content that is scientifically accurate? A 2022 study suggests that misinformation is often emotional, negative, focused on morality, and easier to process as compared to content that is factual. The misinformation plays to our cognitive biases, such as the negativity bias, making it more memorable and shareable. (June 2nd, 2022)

Yet more research links online misinformation to vaccine hesitancy.

Put this study on the growing mountain of evidence that has found that the spread of misinformation is linked to vaccination hesitancy. Indeed, this research found that the “associations between vaccine outcomes and misinformation remain significant when accounting for political as well as demographic and socioeconomic factors.” (June 2nd, 2022)

ScienceUpFirst CSPC Panel – Innovative tools to debunk COVID-19 misinformation

Throughout the pandemic there has been a significant increase in misinformation and conspiracy theories surrounding public health and science that threaten the health and safety of Canadians. Misinformation has greatly contributed to vaccine hesitancy and distrust in public health measures, and has led to anti-mask, anti-lockdown rallies. More importantly, underserved and marginalized communities have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 due to inequities in our healthcare system. Therefore, it is important that we dispel misinformation around vaccines and create trusting environments in a culturally sensitive manner.

Science Up First presented this panel on tools and strategies some experts use when tackling misinformation.

Does format matter when correcting misinformation?

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)

Huge portion of U.S. population influenced by misinformation.

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)

Take a break from the noise!

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)

Avoid the doom-scrolling!

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)

Social media is a BIG part of the problem

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)

Misinformation spreads fast and far

An oft-cited study from 2018 found that misinformation travels “farther, faster, deeper, and more broadly than the truth” – in part, because lies are often more interesting than facts. A more recent analysis came to a similar conclusion, finding that misinformation on Facebook got six times more “likes, shares, and interactions on the platform as did trustworthy news sources.” (September 28, 2021)

When it comes to misinformation, don’t trust your gut

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)

People value efforts to counter misinformation

A study of how the public perceives online corrections of misinformation found that most people broadly endorse and appreciate the practice. Indeed, the majority report not only liking corrections on social media, but see it “as a public responsibility.” This is good news for those countering misinformation – your work is appreciated! (July 26, 2021)

Nudging people to pause and think about accuracy can help

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)

Yes, Debunking Works!

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)