Misinformation and Public Opinion of Science and Health
2021
This article summarizes the literature on misinformation, beginning with an overview of the most common definitions of misinformation (and related terms) in the communication literature and then a review of academic studies in the areas of science and health.
The author acknowledges four overarching questions that have emerged prominently in recent years: (1) What does “misinformation” (and the terms that are oftentimes treated synonymously) mean? (2) How big of a problem is it in areas outside of politics, including science and health? (3) What do we know about the ways in which it impacts citizens? (4) What can be done to minimize the damage it is doing to public understanding of the key issues of the day?
The author reviews the methodological approaches, explores the theoretical frameworks that inform much of the misinformation research, and breaks down the proposed solutions, including a discussion of research aimed at both stopping the spread of such content and lessening its impact on public opinion.
This description was adapted from the publication introduction.
Misinformation and Public Opinion of Science and Health
Source:
Cacciatore MA. Misinformation and Public Opinion of Science and Health: Approaches, Findings, and Future Directions. PNAS 2021; 118 (15). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1912437117