Slide 1 — Cacciatore 2019 April 3 Irvine, CA Arthur M. Department Professor Associate Michael A. Cacciatore THE LANDSCAPE OF MISINFORMATIONLANDSCAPE THE (& DISINFORMATION) SCIENCE ABOUT - 4, 2019 Sackler Colloquium of Advertising & Public Relations& PublicAdvertising Slide 2 — Cacciatore 2019 . . . . Notable Findings & Advice Findings Notable Approaches Methodological ConceptsGuiding& ApproachesTheoretical terms) related (and Misinformation Defining AN OVERVIEW OF THIS TALK OF THIS OVERVIEW AN Slide 3 — Cacciatore 2019 Disinformation . Misinformation is the most common term in the literature the interm common most is the Misinformation WHAT DO WE MEAN BY “MISINFORMATION”? BY WEMEAN DO WHAT Rumors Misinformation Myths Etc. “Fake news” “Fake Conspiracy theory Conspiracy Slide 4 — Cacciatore 2019 . . spread is that information inaccurateor False etc. “confusing,” “distorted,” “misleading,” “incomplete,” “inadequate,”way some is in that as information defined Broadly DEFINING MISINFORMATION DEFINING without without intention to deceive Slide 5 — Cacciatore 2019 MISINFORMATION VS. RELATED TERMS RELATED VS. MISINFORMATION . . . supported by the best available evidence availablebest the by supported Misperceptions: are they realizes Ignorance: 488)p. al., 2013, et (Lewandowsky …” purposes propagandisticfor disseminatedis Disinformation: . is confident in their ( their in confident is As compared When one is illis one When to a misinformed individual who individual a misinformed to “outright false information that information false “outright False beliefs that are not that beliefsFalse incorrect) understandingincorrect) - informed, but informed, Slide 6 — Cacciatore 2019 . . . . Notable Findings & Advice Findings Notable Approaches Methodological ConceptsGuiding& ApproachesTheoretical terms) related (and Misinformation Defining AN OVERVIEW OF THIS TALK OF THIS OVERVIEW AN Slide 7 — Cacciatore 2019 THE CONTINUED INFLUENCE EFFECT (CIE) EFFECT INFLUENCE CONTINUED THE . continue to impact memory and reasoning memory and to impact continue to false, be to revealedis that information for tendency the to refers CIE The . Lewandowsky, Ecker, Swire, Cook, etc. Cook,Swire, Ecker, Lewandowsky, . which the CIE holds or goes away or goes CIE holdsthe which under conditions the understand Goal: Slide 8 — Cacciatore 2019 . . . unless a viable alternative is presented to replace it replaceto is presented alternativea viable unless Reluctance retraction because it tells them how to think them how it tells becauseretraction a againstrebel peoplewhere effects Reactance processretraction the it during repeating by misinformation the of strength the increase We OFFERED EXPLANATIONS OFFERED CIE THE FOR to dismiss information from memory from information dismissto Slide 9 — Cacciatore 2019 . . Operates via several routes, including:routes, severalvia Operates issues) (partisan content of processing and selection biasedThe . . . choose, we select attitudinally consistent content consistent attitudinally select we choose, bias: Confirmation that are incongruent with our thinking our with incongruent are that arguments attacking toward resources cognitive bias: Disconfirmation arguments opposing than compellingmore and stronger as arguments effect: attitude Prior MOTIVATEDREASONING when given the freedom to freedom the given when we evaluate supportive evaluatewe we devote more time andmore time devotewe Slide 10 — Cacciatore 2019 . . . . or scrutinize information from different sources different from information scrutinizeor Skepticism: content of processing the in a role Worldviews: preferences and choices information our prior on bubbles:Filter of like groups polarized chambers:Echo OTHER GUIDING FRAMEWORKS GUIDING OTHER control the content we encounter we content the control the degree to which we questionwe to which degree the our values and orientations play orientations and our values algorithms, which are based which algorithms, reinforcement of opinions by opinionsof reinforcement - minded people minded Slide 11 — Cacciatore 2019 . . . . Notable Findings & Advice Findings Notable Approaches Methodological ConceptsGuiding& ApproachesTheoretical terms) related (and Misinformation Defining AN OVERVIEW OF THIS TALK OF THIS OVERVIEW AN Slide 12 — Cacciatore 2019 FOUR MAJOR METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES METHODOLOGICAL MAJOR FOUR . . . . Experiments interviews) groups, focus (surveys, work opinion Public development analyses/algorithm Network analyses Content Slide 13 — Cacciatore 2019 DIAGNOSING THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM OF THE SCOPETHE DIAGNOSING . . specific social media platforms mediasocial specific to websitesof sets to results engine search from ranging sources, onlineis on Focus health) general (e.g., scopein broader or fluoridation)(e.g., topic specific highly a whether health,on Majoremphasis CONTENT ANALYSES: Slide 14 — Cacciatore 2019 NETWORK ANALYSES/ALGORITHMDEVELOPMENT: UNDERSTANDINGMISINFORMATION SPREAD . compared to accurate content accurate to compared as content false of features common the identifyingFirst, . (dis/ of features common and rumors of style Linguistic mis )information Slide 15 — Cacciatore 2019 NETWORK ANALYSES/ALGORITHMDEVELOPMENT: LEARNING TOTHAT STIFLE LEARNING SPREAD . Next, understanding content flow content understandingNext, . . . . people prior to misinformation exposure? priorto misinformation people inoculateto network the use we Can spread? content such does quickly How engagement?with correlated (dis/ of features What like?look communities onlinedo What mis )information are )information Slide 16 — Cacciatore 2019 GETTING GETTING AT PROBLEM OF THE NUANCE THE . Expert and lay studies focus on: focus studies lay and Expert . . . . public (dis/ public combat to solutions feasiblethe are What vulnerable are most who Those of sources qualitythe identifythey how and information for search peopleWhere communities different is in problem the widespreadhow of Perceptions PUBLIC OPINION WORK: OPINION PUBLIC mis )information? Slide 17 — Cacciatore 2019 CORRECTING MISINFORMATION CORRECTING MIND THE IN . . . to test impacts on later communications later on impacts test to fact of reminded are(or not) Real work effect” “Backfire correction and Retraction . belief that strengthen actually it can “debunking” beliefs, someone’s reinforces claim a When - world intervention where politicians are politicianswhere intervention world EXPERIMENTALWORK: studies - checking services services checking Slide 18 — Cacciatore 2019 . . . . Notable Findings & Advice Findings Notable Approaches Methodological ConceptsGuiding& ApproachesTheoretical terms) related (and Misinformation Defining AN OVERVIEW OF THIS TALK OF THIS OVERVIEW AN Slide 19 — Cacciatore 2019 . . same medium differ dramatically differ medium same the in content same of the explorations times, Other conclusions consistent yield topics D . . ifferent approaches employed on the same or similar or same the on employed approaches ifferent content through search engine results enginesearch through content e tiny fraction of overall coverage overall of fraction tiny a up make that rumors of body a small of consists or flawed highlyis either Twitter on coverage Ebola employed, terms search on Depending .g., Major concerns about the quality of health qualitythe aboutMajor concerns .g., IT DEPENDS HOW LOOK YOU IT DEPENDS AT IT HOW BIG ISTHE PROBLEM? HOW BIG Slide 20 — Cacciatore 2019 . . . . FOR UNDERSTANDINGPROBLEM OF THE SIZETHE conservatives extreme most the most concentrated F news fake spread helped Facebookthat Evidence a visited One with survey Combined WORK IN THE POLITICALTHE WORK IN SPACE HELPFULBE CAN ake - web traffic historieswebtraffic quarter of Americans of quarter news consumption was consumption news 2016 Election 2016 “fake news” website news”“fake responses among . . . . conservatives extreme most the among most concentrated F 2018in present longerno patterns FacebookDistinct website news”“fake a visited Americans of 10% than Less historieswebtraffic with responses survey Combined ake news consumption was consumption newsake 2018 Midterms 2018 Slide 21 — Cacciatore 2019 . . . Models based on the linguistic style of misinformation, misinformation, of style linguisticthe on based Models fields related and science computer in tested andbuilt being are content false of control and identification thefor models Automated beyond the testing phase … phase testing the beyond moved not have most promise, show many While tested been all have patterns engagement and characteristics, network misinformation,share who peoplethe THERE’S ATPROBLEM, SOMELEAST SO, WHATDO WE CAN IT? ABOUT Slide 22 — Cacciatore 2019 IDENTIFYING & CONTROLLING MISINFORMATION:& CONTROLLING IDENTIFYING . Media” ( Media” Socialon “Observatory is the this to exception One . . . political scientists, sociologists, etc. sociologists, scientists, political journalists, scientists, computer among Collaboration movements) and social bots” social and movements) ‘ on based campaigns misinformation spread widelyand orchestrated, systematic, of evidence uncover to group“First content online(false) of spread the understandingand misinformation bots identifyingfor tools severalof Development OSoMe THE PRACTICAL WORK BEING DONE BEING WORK PRACTICALTHE ) at Indiana University Indiana ) at astroturf ’ (fake grassroots (fake ’ and Slide 23 — Cacciatore 2019 WHATPEOPLEONCE WEDO DO “INFECTED”? ARE COMBATTINGMISINFORMATION PEOPLEIN . . The most promising work dealing with the CIE has CIE the with work dealing promising most The phenomenon investigated most the is CIE The focused on: focused . . . . narrative alternativean offer that corrections Providing repetition throughretractions Strengthening training literacy of media forms including exposure, message of time the at warnings Delivering influence misinformation eliminated completely have studiesFew Slide 24 — Cacciatore 2019 WHATPEOPLEONCE WEDO DO “INFECTED”? ARE COMBATTINGMISINFORMATION PEOPLEIN . Other trends and results worth highlighting: worth results and trends Other . . . better than expected sources and regular users regular and sources expected than better work CDC)(e.g., sources authoritative and sources unlikelythat evidencesome withmatter, Sources work demonstrating the “backfire effect “backfire the demonstrating work other and contexts, certainin it works suggesting Mixed “debunking”or correction your to credibilityadds argumentsyour Referencing evidence on fact on evidence - checking, with recent work recent with checking, ” Slide 25 — Cacciatore 2019 . Suggestions for practitioners (Lewandowsky et al., 2012) al., et (Lewandowsky practitioners for Suggestions CORRECTING MISPERCEPTIONS CORRECTING ADDITONAL FOR ADVICE Slide 26 — Cacciatore 2019 [email protected] . Contact: THANK YOU Slide 39 — Cacciatore 2019 MIS(DIS)INFORMATION ABOUT SCIENCE OUR FIRST PANEL: THE LANDSCAPE OF