Alert, but not alarmed: Electoral disinformation and trust during the 2023 Australian voice to parliament referendum DOI
Andrea Carson, Max Grömping, Timothy B. Gravelle

et al.

Policy & Internet, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Nov. 28, 2024

Abstract In 2024 experts highlight misinformation and disinformation “amid elections” as the top short‐term global risk. addressing this pressing concern, electoral authorities are devising strategies to counter while governments consider changes public policy legislation. Drawing on motivated reasoning theory, study assesses impact of mitigation measures in Australia during 2023 referendum campaign – establish a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous Voice Parliament its subsequent impacts trust Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). Through nationally representative survey experiment ( N = 3825) we find overall high AEC with having small, but detectable effect. This finds level “moral panic” regarding disinformation's threat integrity, at least setting. However, concerningly, also existing communication refutation have limited countering distrust arising after attack, suggesting need for other strategies. Nonetheless, underscores resilience processes against threats serving caution excessive legislative reaction problem. Our contributes understanding complex interplay between information, trust, responses challenges.

Language: Английский

A broader view of misinformation reveals potential for intervention DOI Open Access
Sander van der Linden, Yara Kyrychenko

Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 384(6699), P. 959 - 960

Published: May 30, 2024

Misleading claims from credible sources can be more damaging than blatant falsehoods

Language: Английский

Citations

7
Public Discourse Surrounding the 2025 California Wildfires: A Sentiment and Topic Analysis of High-Engagement YouTube Comments DOI Creative Commons
Dmitry Erokhin

Geosciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(3), P. 100 - 100

Published: March 11, 2025

This study explores public discourse surrounding the January 2025 California wildfires by analyzing high-engagement YouTube comments. Leveraging sentiment analysis, misinformation detection, and topic modeling, this research identifies dominant emotional tones, thematic patterns, prevalence of in discussions. The results show a predominantly neutral to positive sentiment, with notable intensity misinformation-related comments, which were rare but impactful. analysis highlights concerns about governance, environmental issues, conspiracy theories, including water mismanagement diversity-related critiques. These findings provide insights for crisis communication, policymaking, management during disasters, emphasizing importance aligning strategies concerns.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Nudge-based misinformation interventions are effective in information environments with low misinformation prevalence DOI Creative Commons
Lucy H. Butler, Toby Prike, Ullrich K. H. Ecker

et al.

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: May 20, 2024

Nudge-based misinformation interventions are presented as cheap and effective ways to reduce the spread of online. However, despite online information environments typically containing relatively low volumes misinformation, most studies testing effectiveness nudge present equal proportions true false information. As nudges can be highly context-dependent, it is imperative validate nudge-based in with more realistic misinformation. The current study (N = 1387) assessed a combined accuracy social-norm simulated social-media varying (50%, 20%, 12.5%) relative non-news-based (i.e., "social") intervention was at improving sharing discernment conditions lower providing ecologically valid support for use counter propagation on social media.

Language: Английский

Citations

1
A technocognitive approach to detecting fallacies in climate misinformation DOI Creative Commons
Francisco Zanartu, John Cook, Markus Wagner

et al.

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Nov. 12, 2024

Abstract Misinformation about climate change is a complex societal issue that requires holistic, interdisciplinary solutions at the intersection between technology and psychology. One proposed solution “technocognitive” approach, involving synthesis of psychological computer science research. Psychological research has identified interventions counter misinformation require both fact-based (e.g., factual explanations) technique-based explanations misleading techniques logical fallacies) content. However, little progress been made on documenting detecting fallacies in misinformation. In this study, we apply previously developed critical thinking methodology for deconstructing order to develop dataset mapping examples reasoning fallacies. This used train model detect We evaluate model’s performance using $$\text {F}_\text {1}$$ F 1 score, which measures how well detects relevant cases while avoiding irrelevant ones. Our study shows scores are 2.5–3.5 times better than previous works. The easiest include fake experts anecdotal arguments, background knowledge, such as oversimplification, misrepresentation, slothful induction, relatively more difficult detect. lays groundwork development where automatically detected can be countered with generative corrections.

Language: Английский

Citations

1
Causal inference in misinformation and conspiracy research DOI Open Access
Li Qian Tay, Mark J. Hurlstone, Yangxueqing Jiang

et al.

Published: Sept. 3, 2024

Psychological research has provided important insights into the processing of misinformation and conspiracy theories. Traditionally, this focused on randomized laboratory experiments observational (non-experimental) studies seeking to establish causality via third-variable adjustment. However, will always be constrained by feasibility ethical considerations, can often lead unjustified causal conclusions or confused analysis goals. We argue that in field could therefore benefit from clearer thinking about an expanded methodological toolset includes natural experiments. Using both real hypothetical examples, we offer accessible introduction counterfactual framework highlight potential instrumental variable analysis, regression discontinuity design, difference-in-differences, synthetic control for drawing inferences. hope such approach contribute greater integration amongst various misinformation- conspiracy- adjacent disciplines, thereby leading more complete theories better applied interventions.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Alert, but not alarmed: Electoral disinformation and trust during the 2023 Australian voice to parliament referendum DOI
Andrea Carson, Max Grömping, Timothy B. Gravelle

et al.

Policy & Internet, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Nov. 28, 2024

Abstract In 2024 experts highlight misinformation and disinformation “amid elections” as the top short‐term global risk. addressing this pressing concern, electoral authorities are devising strategies to counter while governments consider changes public policy legislation. Drawing on motivated reasoning theory, study assesses impact of mitigation measures in Australia during 2023 referendum campaign – establish a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous Voice Parliament its subsequent impacts trust Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). Through nationally representative survey experiment ( N = 3825) we find overall high AEC with having small, but detectable effect. This finds level “moral panic” regarding disinformation's threat integrity, at least setting. However, concerningly, also existing communication refutation have limited countering distrust arising after attack, suggesting need for other strategies. Nonetheless, underscores resilience processes against threats serving caution excessive legislative reaction problem. Our contributes understanding complex interplay between information, trust, responses challenges.

Language: Английский

Citations

0