The Effect of Disinformation on Opinion Formation: Experimental Analyses of the Effect and Role of Different Influencing Factors in a Multi-Method Design
Researchers Involved
research areas
timeframe
2022 - 2023
contact
s.kessler@ikmz.uzh.ch
The Effect of Disinformation on Opinion Formation
Especially in times of crisis, disinformation flourishes on social media, and this can have negative effects on not only individuals but also society as a whole. The aim of this project is to investigate the effect of disinformation on social media on opinion formation and explore influencing factors. The particular focus of the project is on the role of repeated exposure to disinformation, the frequency of use of social media platforms, trust in social institutions, the use of warning labels in social media posts and individual online search processes in checking disinformation.
An experiment in an innovative multi-method design is planned (WP1). Participants will be asked to identify disinformation communicated by different information sources and to verify it by means of online search. By means of eye-tracking, the reception behaviour when experiencing disinformation, as well as the reception and selection behaviour during internet search, will be recorded. By means of standardized online surveys, attitudes at different time points will be recorded.
In addition, a representative online survey experiment in three waves is planned (WP2). Here, the (long-term) effect of disinformation on social media will be analysed under four conditions: 1. one-time exposure on different social media platforms, 2. one-time exposure with warning labels, 3. repeated exposure on one social media platform, and 4. repeated exposure with warning labels.
The project will examine the effect of politically motivated disinformation on recipients’ opinion formation and attitudes; the role of exposure frequency, social media use and trust in social institutions; and whether warning labels used or recipients influence the effect and identification of disinformation through their own online search.
Background
Especially in times of crisis, disinformation flourishes on social media, and this can have negative effects on not only individuals but also society as a whole. The aim of this project is to investigate the effect of disinformation on social media on opinion formation and explore influencing factors.
Research Questions
1. What effect does politically motivated disinformation have on the opinion formation and attitudes of recipients?
2. What role do repeated exposure to disinformation, frequency of use of social media platforms, trust in social institutions, and the use of warning labels in social media posts play in the identification and impact of disinformation?
3. What do individual search, selection and reception processes for checking disinformation look like, and what effect do these processes have on the recipient’s opinion formation and attitudes?
Project Aim
The project will examine the effect of politically motivated disinformation on recipients’ opinion formation and attitudes; the role of exposure frequency, social media use and trust in social institutions; and whether warning labels used or recipients influence the effect and identification of disinformation through their own online search.