Fact-Checking of Health Information: The Effect of Media Literacy, Metacognition and Health Information Exposure

Lee, Danielle Ka Lai; Ramazan, Onur

doi:10.1080/10810730.2021.1955312

Cited by 24 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…If they are unable to reach a conclusion, they can look to outside sources to verify the news (e.g., friends, health care providers, and institutional sources) (Tandoc et al, 2018). In addition, many fact-checking websites, such as Factcheck.org, and health information services website (e.g., WebMD) can be utilized by laypeople to evaluate the quality of news and to locate reliable health information (D. K. L. Lee & Ramazan, 2021). Individual users' fact-checking plays a critical role in improving their health knowledge, which aids in correct decision-making, enhancing coping skills, and alleviating anxiety (Barua et al, 2020).…”

Section: Fact-checking As Responsementioning

confidence: 99%

The Roles of Worry, Social Media Information Overload, and Social Media Fatigue in Hindering Health Fact-Checking

Jiang

2022

Social Media + Society

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Health misinformation has become a salient issue on social media. To lower the risk of health misinformation, fact-checking matters. However, most existing studies investigated fact-checking from the journalism angle, while little is known about how information-seekers’ social media use affects their fact-checking behaviors. Also, it remains unclear how individuals’ health worry is associated with health fact-checking. Based on the O-S-O-R model, this study explored the underlying mechanism through which health worry and social media might hinder users’ fact-checking. Specifically, with a two-wave panel survey conducted in China during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study showed that individuals’ worry about COVID-19 increased social media information overload, which resulted in social media fatigue that could reduce health fact-checking. Also, the direct relationship between worry and fact-checking was not significant, but was completely mediated by social media information overload and social media fatigue. The findings demonstrate the negative roles of worry and social media in inhibiting users’ fact-checking behaviors. Important theoretical and practical implications for promoting effective fact-checking are discussed.

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Section: Fact-checking As Responsementioning

confidence: 99%

The Roles of Worry, Social Media Information Overload, and Social Media Fatigue in Hindering Health Fact-Checking

Jiang

2022

Social Media + Society

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“…They may share rumors with others in an attempt to verify the rumors’ truthfulness (Oh and Lee 2019). They may also verify facts by comparing information across different media channels, including television, newspapers, and social media (Lee and Ramazan 2021). In fact, media literacy programs have been advocating these fact-checking behaviors since fake news have become a popular concern (e.g., ‘How to Spot Fake News’, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions , 2020).…”

Section: Media Consumers’ Fact-checking Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lastly, people visit the websites of dedicated fact-checking organizations, which play a key role in debunking erroneous or misleading information in today's media (Robertson et al 2020). Although people at times also consider additional reference materials, such as scientific reports (Lee and Ramazan 2021), these efforts are less prevalent for verifying political information given that reference materials in political arena (e.g., government reports or meeting minutes) are rarely available to media consumers. Therefore, examinations of media consumers’ fact-checking shall investigate the behavior of seeking verification from personal networks, multiple media channels, and dedicated fact-checking websites (Edgerly et al 2020; Yu and Shen 2021).…”

Section: Media Consumers’ Fact-checking Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Extant studies concerning media consumers' fact-checking behavior and its consequences have predominantly focused on the use of dedicated fact-checking websites and exposure to the information they release. Only very few studies have investigated verification-seeking behavior or the search for factual information from other sources (e.g., Edgerly et al 2020;Lee and Ramazan 2021;Yu and Shen 2021). Although this exclusive research focus echoes the recently growing interest in dedicated fact-checking websites, it has several limitations.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Who Fact-Checks and Does It Matter? Examining the Antecedents and Consequences of Audience Fact-Checking Behaviour in Hong Kong

Chia

Günther

2022

The International Journal of Press/Politics

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This study investigated the ways in which people engaged in fact-checking in a highly divided context—the Anti-Extradition Bill Movement (AEBM) in Hong Kong. A telephone survey representative of the Hong Kong population was conducted in 2020 ( N = 1,004). The findings showed that males with greater news consumption and issue involvement were more likely to engage in fact-checking behavior. Nevertheless, the effects of fact-checking appeared mixed. We first found that fact-checking behavior reduced belief in disagreeable misinformation only for supporters of the AEBM. More robust evidence showed that frequent fact-checking behavior reinforced, rather than reduced, partisans’ belief in misinformation regarding the opponent group. A warning of the backfire effects of fact-checking on exacerbating opinion polarization and social division is issued.

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“…But it is not the only type of knowledge that matters. Studies have suggested that knowledge about media and persuasion may also play a role in people’s awareness about deception (Boudewyns et al , 2018; (Lee and Ramazan, 2021). Thus, we hope to contribute to understanding various types of knowledge and their effects on curbing the impact of health misinformation.…”

Section: Theoretical Framework and Key Termsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of health misinformation on misbeliefs: understanding the moderating roles of different types of knowledge

Wang

Jacobson

2022

JICES

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Purpose Health misinformation poses severe risks to people’s health decisions and outcomes. A great deal of research in this area has focused on debunking misinformation and found limited effects of correctives after misinformation exposure. The research on prebunking strategies has been inadequate. Most has focused on forewarning and enhancing literacy skills and knowledge to recognize misinformation. Part of the reason for the inadequacy could be due to the challenges in conceptualizing and measuring knowledge. This study intends to fill this gap and examines various types of knowledge, including subjective knowledge, cancer literacy, persuasion knowledge and media literacy. This study aims to understand how knowledge may moderate the effect of misinformation exposure on misbeliefs. Design/methodology/approach An online experiment with a basic experimental design (misinformation exposure: health misinformation vs factual health message) was conducted. The authors measured and tested the moderating role of different types of knowledge (subjective knowledge, cancer literacy, persuasion knowledge and media literacy) separately to improve the understanding of their role in combatting online health misinformation. Findings This study found that a higher level of cancer literacy and persuasion knowledge helped people identify misinformation and prevented them from being persuaded by it. A higher level of subjective knowledge, however, reduced the recognition of misinformation, thereby increasing the likelihood of being persuaded by it. Media literacy did not moderate the mediation path. Originality/value This study differentiates the role different types of knowledge may have played in moderating the influence of health misinformation. It contributes to a strategic development of interventions that better prepare people against the influence of health misinformation.

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Fact-Checking of Health Information: The Effect of Media Literacy, Metacognition and Health Information Exposure

Cited by 24 publications

References 56 publications

The Roles of Worry, Social Media Information Overload, and Social Media Fatigue in Hindering Health Fact-Checking

The Roles of Worry, Social Media Information Overload, and Social Media Fatigue in Hindering Health Fact-Checking

Who Fact-Checks and Does It Matter? Examining the Antecedents and Consequences of Audience Fact-Checking Behaviour in Hong Kong

Effects of health misinformation on misbeliefs: understanding the moderating roles of different types of knowledge

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